On 24 Nov 2008, at 11:17, Kim Jones wrote:
>
>
> On 24/11/2008, at 1:50 PM, Colin Hales wrote:
>
>> It seems that the last thing physicists want to do is predict
>> themselves. They do absolutely "everything" except that. When they
>> say "everything" in a "Theory of Everything", that's what they
>> actually mean: Everything except physicists (and their P-
>> consciousness).
>>
>>>
>
> Yes. It's 2,000+ years of:
>
>
> The eye cannot see itself in action (EVEN in a mirror - try catching
> your eye in the act of moving when you have a shave tomorrow)
>
> The tongue cannot taste itself (except after a hangover maybe)
>
> The hammer cannot hit itself (always wondered about this one...)
>
> The boot drive in your PC cannot analyse any problems it might be
> having IF the diagnostic software is run out of the boot drive (very
> sad, that)
>
> You cannot tell that the Earth is round if you are standing on it
> (senses bedevil the intellect)
>
> You cannot tell if the Sun goes round the Earth or the Earth goes
> round the Sun if you are standing on the one or the other (ditto)
>
> You cannot be sure if you are sane or insane ('Cogito ergo sum' is
> therefore nonsense - somebody tell poor old René)
>
> You cannot tell if you are a self-referentially correct machine or not
> (Go Bruno!)
But you can be self-referentially correct (of course you will not
tell!).
And you can bet you are self-referentially correct.
>
>
> You cannot be sure that anybody else exists apart from your experience
> of them (GO the solipsists!!!)
>
> You cannot tell if we are a simulation or the real McCoy - whatever
> that is (GO Nick Bostrom!!!)
>
> You cannot tell whether the temporary equilibrium that is Nothing will
> break down at some time and become ????
>
> Well - it already has, hasn't it? Isn't that why we are here?
>
> So - in answer to the question "Why is there something rather than
> nothing?" - I believe the answer to be:
>
> "Nonsense. Nothing exists."
I hope you believe in people like me who are reading this mail. I
guess you are joking :)
(I mean if nothing exist I don't exist, and well, I am not quite sure
of that :)
Note that if nothing exists (with the s), then you can no more say
that no things exist.
All what I say is that IF we are machine, then there is only one
certainty left: taxes.
Best regards,
Bruno
http://iridia.ulb.ac.be/~marchal/
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Received on Mon Nov 24 2008 - 11:37:37 PST