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Sikz
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"Reality", Mathematics, and Computer Software
I believe this thread belongs in the Philosophy of Science and Mathematics section rather than in the "Software" section, because it deals with, well, philosophy of science and mathematics.
First of all, what IS mathematics? Is it not a way of describing the universe and the things within it? The only other possibility, it would appear, is that mathematics is the set of laws which the universe follows. Either it describes an actuality, or an actuality describes it. I believe it can be generally agreed that mathematics descibes reality rather than the other way around. If you do not agree, feel free to present your argument against our assumption.
Accepting that mathematics describes the universe (what, for our purposes, shall be considered reality, although the validity of this point of view is in some dispute), the flaw in a computer program emulating reality is clear. Computer software is RULED by mathematics; rather than mathematics simply DESCRIBING computer programs, computer programs are described by mathematics. Therefore the ultimate degree of realism cannot be found in any software made on current computers.
How, then, could we go about making a "virtual universe", had we the desire? Obviously we cannot overcome the flaw in computers- we need a new type of machine altogether! A computer capable of true "universe emulation" is required to not use a single number in its code! A program that created a perfectly realistic virtual universe would have to be based on geometric shapes and such- for that is what the real universe is based on- and NOT numbers.
How, though, would you build such a machine? Is it even possible? As an additional note, the human mind does not appear to be based on mathematics...
I believe this thread belongs in the Philosophy of Science and Mathematics section rather than in the "Software" section, because it deals with, well, philosophy of science and mathematics.
First of all, what IS mathematics? Is it not a way of describing the universe and the things within it? The only other possibility, it would appear, is that mathematics is the set of laws which the universe follows. Either it describes an actuality, or an actuality describes it. I believe it can be generally agreed that mathematics descibes reality rather than the other way around. If you do not agree, feel free to present your argument against our assumption.
Accepting that mathematics describes the universe (what, for our purposes, shall be considered reality, although the validity of this point of view is in some dispute), the flaw in a computer program emulating reality is clear. Computer software is RULED by mathematics; rather than mathematics simply DESCRIBING computer programs, computer programs are described by mathematics. Therefore the ultimate degree of realism cannot be found in any software made on current computers.
How, then, could we go about making a "virtual universe", had we the desire? Obviously we cannot overcome the flaw in computers- we need a new type of machine altogether! A computer capable of true "universe emulation" is required to not use a single number in its code! A program that created a perfectly realistic virtual universe would have to be based on geometric shapes and such- for that is what the real universe is based on- and NOT numbers.
How, though, would you build such a machine? Is it even possible? As an additional note, the human mind does not appear to be based on mathematics...