Banished to a deserted island and FLT

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a hypothetical scenario where participants must choose items to bring to a deserted island after discovering a simple proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. The choices include living beings, books, objects, and music albums, with a focus on personal preferences rather than survival needs. The conversation explores the implications of these choices and the conditions of isolation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously suggests that they would rather end their life than face isolation.
  • There is a question about whether pets can be substituted for people, indicating a preference for animals over human companionship.
  • Another participant expresses concern that anyone forced to live with them would become suicidal, reflecting on the psychological impact of isolation.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the rules of what the chosen people can bring, with some participants noting that they would not know what others would choose.
  • One participant outlines a specific selection of books and objects, emphasizing a desire for tools and educational materials for personal projects.
  • Another participant discusses the potential limitations of pre-loaded content on a computer, indicating a desire for access to a wide range of information.
  • There is mention of a large collection of books available through Library Genesis, raising questions about the feasibility of accessing such a resource on the island.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the types of companions and items they would choose, with no consensus on the best approach to the scenario. Some participants agree on the importance of personal preferences, while others highlight the psychological implications of isolation.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the implications of their choices without resolving the underlying assumptions about the nature of companionship and the psychological effects of isolation. The limitations of what can be brought and the unknown factors regarding others' choices remain unresolved.

micromass
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You have finally done it. You have found a really elementary proof of Fermat's last theorem. The proof was so simple and obvious that it's amazing the mathematical community missed it. It's safe to say that the mathematicians aren't not amused. They kidnap you and utterly destroy any mentions of your proof. You are forced to live the rest of your life quite comfortably in isolation on a deserted island.

Contary to common belief, mathematicians aren't completely heartless. They realize that ##6## is the order of the smallest noncommutative group, and so they allow you to choose some things to bring with you to the island.

1) First, they allow you to bring 6 other living things to the island. This can be anybody or anything. They will live with you for the rest of your life.
2) They allow you to bring 6 books on any topic to the island.
3) They allow you to bring 6 objects (other than books) to the island.
4) They allow you to bring 6 music albums (the means to play the music is available on the island)

Which of these would you choose? Remember, here are the rules:
1) The island is equipped so you can live comfortably. So the objects/books/people you can choose should be chosen in terms of hobby or what you like best. They don't need to be in terms of survival.
2) Any contact with the outside world is strictly forbidden and will be enforced by the special agents of the AMS. So you can choose to bring a computer, but an internet connection, a phone, or whatever is forbidden.
3) There is no hope to escape. So don't try it.
 
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I'd just kill myself.
 
Can we substitute pets for people? Can't live without pets. Or are animals one of the amenities that come with the island?
 
Evo said:
Can we substitute pets for people?

Yes, I'll rewrite the OP to reflect this.
 
The people you bring can bring nothing?

Hmm anyone forced to live with me under these conditions would soon become suicidal.

Good thought game micro! :biggrin:
 
Evo said:
The people you bring can bring nothing?

They can, but you have no control over what they bring, nor will you know beforehand. You can guess it though...
 
micromass said:
They can, but you have no control over what they bring, nor will you know beforehand. You can guess it though...
Interesting. And they will not know what I am bringing?
 
micromass said:
1) First, they allow you to bring 6 other living things to the island. This can be anybody or anything. They will live with you for the rest of your life.
2) They allow you to bring 6 books on any topic to the island.
3) They allow you to bring 6 objects (other than books) to the island.
4) They allow you to bring 6 music albums (the means to play the music is available on the island)
I'm going to assume I can bring less.

1. No one. I wouldn't doom others to my fate.
2. A toolbox of my choosing. To spend time doing experiments as hobby.
3. Books: Essential book for Quantum Mechanics, one of Materials Science for Engineers, one of General Chemistry. A white notebook to write. The rest can be anything.
4. Nothing.
 
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Evo said:
Interesting. And they will not know what I am bringing?

They will not know.
 
  • #10
Is there a limit to what you can have pre-loaded on your computer?
 
  • #11
Evo said:
Is there a limit to what you can have pre-loaded on your computer?

If you choose a computer, it will be a new computer that you buy from a store. Anything you want to load on the computer is an additional object choice.
 
  • #12
As for people, I'd ask around but not forcibly take someone with me.

For the books I'm not sure, probably Ballentine's as I will have some time to work through it. (1/6)
2 books on homebrewing (3/6)
Lord of the rings trilogy (4/6)
2 more physics or maths books to be determined (6/6)

Next I'd take a computer. (1/6)
I would either load the computer with the contents of the (pirates) library genesis or if that's too big my own Calibre-library would suffice :D (2/6)
For fun I'd like an advanced homebrewing kit + lifetime supplies (4/6)
A fishing rod (5/6)
Scubagear (6/6)

Edit;
I wanted to find out how big library genesis is, it contains at least 1.3 million books.
If you add the scientific articles (don't know how they circumvent paywalls) there'd be even more.
 
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