RE: Is the universe computable?

From: David Barrett-Lennard <dbl.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 11:19:52 +0800

Jesse Mazer wrote,

> Isn't there a fundamental problem deciding what it means for a given
> simulated object to implement some other computation?

Yes, but does this problem need to be solved? I have no problem with
the idea that some "physical object" (in one computation) can be
"interpreted" in all sorts of ways - depending on how you map it. Does
it matter if there exists a (weird) mapping between a rock and a
universe with conscious inhabitants? The universe doesn't depend on the
rock for its existence so who cares!

- David
Received on Wed Jan 07 2004 - 22:22:30 PST