The Probing of, Approximation to and Idealization of Structure for Foundations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a paper titled "The Probing of, Approximation to and Idealization of Structure for Foundations," which explores the integration of computational and mathematical concepts into the foundations of physics. The scope includes theoretical frameworks and the implications of an evolving universe modeled through category theory and local semantics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Ben shares insights from his work with Lucien Hardy and Prakash Panangaden, proposing a novel view that incorporates computational concepts into physics.
  • The paper discusses the evolving universe as a Domain map with a Scott topology, abstracting this to continuous functors.
  • There is a focus on a realist causal structure where the order relation is viewed as composition in a category.
  • Attention is given to indefinite causal structures, referencing the Fischer impossibility result as a critique of using Set theory to describe the universe.
  • Ben suggests that the universe may approximate the category of sets through a consensus protocol among signaling systems.
  • The discussion includes technical challenges related to accessing the paper, with participants sharing their experiences with different links.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of success in accessing the paper, indicating a lack of consensus on the availability of the links provided. There is no substantive disagreement on the content of the paper itself, as the focus remains on access issues.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that access to certain links may be restricted based on workplace internet policies, which could affect their ability to engage with the paper.

bensprott
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"The Probing of, Approximation to and Idealization of Structure" for Foundations

Hey,
Over the past six years I have worked with Lucien Hardy at Perimeter in Waterloo and Prakash Panangaden at McGill. This paper is the culmination of thoughts on physics gleaned from that work.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6040582/EvolvingUniverseFeb24.pdf"

or try this link

http://www.freewebs.com/bensprott/EvolvingUniverseFeb24.pdf"

or this

http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~bsprot1/EvolvingUniverseFeb24.pdf"


Preamble:
After completing the requirements for an MSc in Computer Science at McGill University, I have attempted to formulate a novel view which places certain computational and mathematical concepts into the foundations of phycis. The following paper is deeply inspired by Panangaden, Keyes, Blute, Hardy and Ivanov's work as well as Lawvere's functorial semantics. Specifically, it takes an evolving universe as a Domain map with a Scott topology and further abstracts this to continuous functors so that a universe is evolving continuously over all structures. This is based on a tentative belief in a realist causal structure where the order relation is also seen as composition in a category. Attention is given to indefinite causal structure by looking at the Fischer impossibility result as an indication that, while Set is untenable for speaking about the universe, it is possibly natural for the universe to approximate the category of sets when the rich interplay of signalling systems is seen as a consensus protocol. This is all given a local semantics in that all knowledge is understood as derived from morphisms in a local lab. The morphisms in the history of the universe are mapped to local morphisms by a functor and a domain map.



Ben
 
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I cannot open the paper here at work. Do you have another link?
 


hey,

thanks for the tip. I gave a new link
 
Both of them doesn't work here. Why don't you try to host them here:

http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~bsprot1/
 


MTd2 said:
Both of them doesn't work here.
All the links work for me.
 


MTd2 said:
I cannot open the paper here at work. Do you have another link?

Demystifier said:
All the links work for me.

Only certain types of www links may be accessible if one is "here at work" in the office if the company or government agency that one works for restricts web access from office computers. Just guessing.
 


Yes, that's true. But the one on his personal website works here. Thank you! :smile:
 

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