Re: OMs are events

From: Hal Finney <hal.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 09:38:55 -0700 (PDT)

Brent Meeker writes:
> I'm uncertain whether "instantiated by abstract mathematical patterns" means
> that the patterns are being physically realized by a process in time (as in the
> sci-fi above) or by the physical existence of the patterns in some static form
> (e.g. written pieces of paper) or just by the Platonic "existence" of the
> patterns within some mathematic/logic system.

I'd be curious to know whether you think that Platonic existence could
include a notion of time. Can you imagine a process, something that
involves the flow of time, existing Platonically? Or would you restrict
Platonic existence to things like integers and triangles, which seemingly
don't involve anything like time?

How about the case of mathematical proofs? Could an entire proof
exist Platonically? A proof has a sort of time-like flow to it, causal
dependency of later steps on earlier ones. It seems to be an interesting
intermediate case.

My tentative opinion is that it does make sense to ascribe Platonic
existence to such things but I am interested to hear other people's
thoughts.

Hal Finney
Received on Thu Aug 04 2005 - 13:36:17 PDT