X-Message-Number: 26048 Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 09:02:25 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: More for Francois Crevier For Francois Crevier, once more: The main problem with being a simulation run in a computer comes from the simple fact that the simulating computer is in the REAL WORLD and subject to all kinds of catastrophes over time, catastrophes of which you will be totally unaware and have no control over, even the opportunity to run away from them. (If you want to get into metaphysics you could always answer that we may be such simulations already. But my answer to that is that I am not doing metaphysics). I will add that reality is generally so complicated and sometimes unpredictable (at the time something happens) that actually making such a simulation may turn out to be impossible. You'd have to simulate not just the person, but the world in which that person lives and the people that he/she may meet and converse with, make love to, hate, like, dislike, or have as boss or subordinate. The problem grows too big: even if our simulating computer has nanosized parts, it will end up eating the entire universe and asking for more to do an accurate simulation. And, of course, all these parts of the universe in which that person lives will have to appear simultaneous. Finally, if we assume that computers manipulate symbols only, then as a system for manipulating symbols it will run into Goedel's Theorem --- while the world doesn't have to deal with Goedel's Theorem because it is not a purely symbolic entity. Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26048