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Current Essay Contest
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Undecidability, Uncomputability, and Unpredictability Essay Contest
December 24, 2019 - April 24, 2020
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What Is “Fundamental”
October 28, 2017 to January 22, 2018
Sponsored by the Fetzer Franklin Fund and The Peter & Patricia Gruber Foundation
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Wandering Towards a Goal
How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention?
December 2, 2016 to March 3, 2017
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read/discuss • winners
Trick or Truth: The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics
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How Should Humanity Steer the Future?
January 9, 2014 - August 31, 2014
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It From Bit or Bit From It
March 25 - June 28, 2013
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Questioning the Foundations
Which of Our Basic Physical Assumptions Are Wrong?
May 24 - August 31, 2012
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Is Reality Digital or Analog?
November 2010 - February 2011
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What's Ultimately Possible in Physics?
May - October 2009
Contest Partners: Astrid and Bruce McWilliams
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The Nature of Time
August - December 2008
read/discuss • winners
Current Essay Contest
Contest Partner: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Fund.
Previous Contests
Undecidability, Uncomputability, and Unpredictability Essay Contest
December 24, 2019 - April 24, 2020
Contest Partners: Fetzer Franklin Fund, and The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation
read/discuss • winners
What Is “Fundamental”
October 28, 2017 to January 22, 2018
Sponsored by the Fetzer Franklin Fund and The Peter & Patricia Gruber Foundation
read/discuss • winners
Wandering Towards a Goal
How can mindless mathematical laws give rise to aims and intention?
December 2, 2016 to March 3, 2017
Contest Partner: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Fund.
read/discuss • winners
Trick or Truth: The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics
Contest Partners: Nanotronics Imaging, The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, and The John Templeton Foundation
Media Partner: Scientific American
read/discuss • winners
How Should Humanity Steer the Future?
January 9, 2014 - August 31, 2014
Contest Partners: Jaan Tallinn, The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, The John Templeton Foundation, and Scientific American
read/discuss • winners
It From Bit or Bit From It
March 25 - June 28, 2013
Contest Partners: The Gruber Foundation, J. Templeton Foundation, and Scientific American
read/discuss • winners
Questioning the Foundations
Which of Our Basic Physical Assumptions Are Wrong?
May 24 - August 31, 2012
Contest Partners: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, SubMeta, and Scientific American
read/discuss • winners
Is Reality Digital or Analog?
November 2010 - February 2011
Contest Partners: The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation and Scientific American
read/discuss • winners
What's Ultimately Possible in Physics?
May - October 2009
Contest Partners: Astrid and Bruce McWilliams
read/discuss • winners
The Nature of Time
August - December 2008
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RECENT POSTS IN THIS TOPIC
Peter Jackson: on 3/28/17 at 14:41pm UTC, wrote Al, Nicely done. I agree with all you write and infer. Self deception is...
Al Schneider: on 3/19/17 at 8:39am UTC, wrote Willy: Thanks for your suggestions. Some of the material you refer to was...
Willy K: on 3/19/17 at 4:53am UTC, wrote Hi Al A nice thought experiment indeed. I rate your essay highly. Reminded...
Al Schneider: on 3/18/17 at 19:13pm UTC, wrote Aims and intention are mindless mathematical laws. Consciousness, whatever...
Satyavarapu Gupta: on 3/18/17 at 9:52am UTC, wrote Sir I want you to ask you to please have a look at my essay, where...
Jonathan Dickau: on 3/17/17 at 5:22am UTC, wrote My guess is.. You never picked up the topic, or told us what the answer...
Al Schneider: on 3/17/17 at 0:53am UTC, wrote Ben Tolkin Thank you very much for this observation. That is driving to...
Ben Tolkin: on 3/17/17 at 0:31am UTC, wrote Just thought I would mention: when I first read this essay, I thought the...
RECENT FORUM POSTS
Lorraine Ford: "Unchallenged, physics/ mathematics/ philosophy (significantly, it’s..." in How does the brain...
Christoph Schiller: "There is a way to summarize the paper below in a single statement: The..." in Testing a conjecture on...
Steve Dufourny: "For your information, the physics is the main chief orchestra of the..." in How does the brain...
John Cox: "oops... 8.3 seconds, what was I thinking" in On a contextual model...
John Cox: "Georgi, this is new on my browser, and much different from what I've..." in On a contextual model...
Steve Dufourny: "we see quickly that we have an enormous problem in trying to unify the..." in Alternative Models of...
Paul Hayes: ""According to quantum physics, a system can be in a ’superposition,’..." in The Quantum Engine That...
Alan Lowey: "Brian What % chance would you give of Einstein's gravity theory being..." in Alternative Models of...
RECENT ARTICLES
click titles to read articles
Can Choices Curve Spacetime?
Two teams are developing ways to detect quantum-gravitational effects in the lab.
The Quantum Engine That Simultaneously Heats and Cools
Tiny device could help boost quantum electronics.
The Quantum Refrigerator
A tiny cooling device could help rewrite the thermodynamic rule book for quantum machines.
Time to Think
Philosopher Jenann Ismael invokes the thermodynamic arrow of time to explain how human intelligence emerged through culture.
Lockdown Lab Life
Grounded physicists are exploring the use of online and virtual-reality conferencing, and AI-controlled experiments, to maintain social distancing. Post-pandemic, these positive innovations could make science more accessible and environmentally-friendly.
Peter Jackson: on 3/28/17 at 14:41pm UTC, wrote Al, Nicely done. I agree with all you write and infer. Self deception is...
Al Schneider: on 3/19/17 at 8:39am UTC, wrote Willy: Thanks for your suggestions. Some of the material you refer to was...
Willy K: on 3/19/17 at 4:53am UTC, wrote Hi Al A nice thought experiment indeed. I rate your essay highly. Reminded...
Al Schneider: on 3/18/17 at 19:13pm UTC, wrote Aims and intention are mindless mathematical laws. Consciousness, whatever...
Satyavarapu Gupta: on 3/18/17 at 9:52am UTC, wrote Sir I want you to ask you to please have a look at my essay, where...
Jonathan Dickau: on 3/17/17 at 5:22am UTC, wrote My guess is.. You never picked up the topic, or told us what the answer...
Al Schneider: on 3/17/17 at 0:53am UTC, wrote Ben Tolkin Thank you very much for this observation. That is driving to...
Ben Tolkin: on 3/17/17 at 0:31am UTC, wrote Just thought I would mention: when I first read this essay, I thought the...
RECENT FORUM POSTS
Lorraine Ford: "Unchallenged, physics/ mathematics/ philosophy (significantly, it’s..." in How does the brain...
Christoph Schiller: "There is a way to summarize the paper below in a single statement: The..." in Testing a conjecture on...
Steve Dufourny: "For your information, the physics is the main chief orchestra of the..." in How does the brain...
John Cox: "oops... 8.3 seconds, what was I thinking" in On a contextual model...
John Cox: "Georgi, this is new on my browser, and much different from what I've..." in On a contextual model...
Steve Dufourny: "we see quickly that we have an enormous problem in trying to unify the..." in Alternative Models of...
Paul Hayes: ""According to quantum physics, a system can be in a ’superposition,’..." in The Quantum Engine That...
Alan Lowey: "Brian What % chance would you give of Einstein's gravity theory being..." in Alternative Models of...
RECENT ARTICLES
click titles to read articles
Can Choices Curve Spacetime?
Two teams are developing ways to detect quantum-gravitational effects in the lab.
The Quantum Engine That Simultaneously Heats and Cools
Tiny device could help boost quantum electronics.
The Quantum Refrigerator
A tiny cooling device could help rewrite the thermodynamic rule book for quantum machines.
Time to Think
Philosopher Jenann Ismael invokes the thermodynamic arrow of time to explain how human intelligence emerged through culture.
Lockdown Lab Life
Grounded physicists are exploring the use of online and virtual-reality conferencing, and AI-controlled experiments, to maintain social distancing. Post-pandemic, these positive innovations could make science more accessible and environmentally-friendly.
FQXi FORUM
June 20, 2021
CATEGORY:
Wandering Towards a Goal Essay Contest (2016-2017)
[back]
TOPIC: Gedankenexperiment by Al Schneider [refresh]
TOPIC: Gedankenexperiment by Al Schneider [refresh]
Essay Abstract
This paper considers a thought experiment in which a mathematically mindless universe randomly spawns life that can be self-aware and self-deceptive.
Author Bio
Al read “ABC of Relativity” by Bertram Russell at age eleven and books on UFO’s and WWI aircraft. Special relativity fascinated Al leading to an intense interest in quantum mechanics. He acquired a BS degree in Physics in 1969. He also developed an interest in magic becoming one of the world’s experts in magic deception. His professional life was dedicated to programming computers working on such devices as injection molding machines, pacemakers, airplane guidance systems and so on. Hobbies: Japanese sword fighting, karate, skiing, religions, and hot cars.
Download Essay PDF File
This paper considers a thought experiment in which a mathematically mindless universe randomly spawns life that can be self-aware and self-deceptive.
Author Bio
Al read “ABC of Relativity” by Bertram Russell at age eleven and books on UFO’s and WWI aircraft. Special relativity fascinated Al leading to an intense interest in quantum mechanics. He acquired a BS degree in Physics in 1969. He also developed an interest in magic becoming one of the world’s experts in magic deception. His professional life was dedicated to programming computers working on such devices as injection molding machines, pacemakers, airplane guidance systems and so on. Hobbies: Japanese sword fighting, karate, skiing, religions, and hot cars.
Download Essay PDF File
Dear Magician Schneider,
Reality am not experimental. Simple natural reality has nothing to do with any abstract complex musings such as the ones you effortlessly indulge in. As I have thoughtfully pointed out in my brilliant essay, SCORE ONE FOR SIMPLICITY, the real Universe consists only of one unified visible infinite surface occurring in one infinite dimension, that am always illuminated by infinite non-surface light. Reality am not as complicated as theories of reality are. The correct name of the author of ABC of Relativity am Bertrand Arthur William Russell.
Joe Fisher, Realist
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Reality am not experimental. Simple natural reality has nothing to do with any abstract complex musings such as the ones you effortlessly indulge in. As I have thoughtfully pointed out in my brilliant essay, SCORE ONE FOR SIMPLICITY, the real Universe consists only of one unified visible infinite surface occurring in one infinite dimension, that am always illuminated by infinite non-surface light. Reality am not as complicated as theories of reality are. The correct name of the author of ABC of Relativity am Bertrand Arthur William Russell.
Joe Fisher, Realist
Good essay sir, “Consciousness is a dimension” is nice idea. How will you measure it , the measurement may vary from person to person. A police officer, a judge, a lawyer, your teacher, your wife, your children, your father and finally your mother may judge your personality differently. Can they judge your consciousness…
You have a nice flow of narrating the essay , best wishes
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You have a nice flow of narrating the essay , best wishes
Sir
I want you to ask you to please have a look at my essay, where ……………reproduction of Galaxies in the Universe is described. Dynamic Universe Model is another mathematical model for Universe. Its mathematics show that the movement of masses will be having a purpose or goal, Different Galaxies will be born and die (quench) etc…just have a look at the essay… “Distances,...
view entire post
I want you to ask you to please have a look at my essay, where ……………reproduction of Galaxies in the Universe is described. Dynamic Universe Model is another mathematical model for Universe. Its mathematics show that the movement of masses will be having a purpose or goal, Different Galaxies will be born and die (quench) etc…just have a look at the essay… “Distances,...
view entire post
Interesting essay which reflects the modern trend to highlight human consciousness as an integral part of the Universe. In physics it was Einstein in his Special Relativity who, by making the observer central to everything, has introduced this brilliant but deeply troubling concept. Brilliant because it helps solve practical technical questions about light, mass, motion and clock time, but troubling because, as I have argued in my essay , it negates a Universe that has existed and evolved according to its own laws aeons before or species emerged. Accepting SR and ceasing to search for the 'mindless' laws of the Universe has led to a dead-end in contemporary physics
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Dear Al Schneide!
I appreciate your essay. You spent a lot of effort to write it. If you believed in the principle of identity of space and matter of Descartes, then your essay would be even better. There is not movable a geometric space, and is movable physical space. These are different concepts.
I invite you to familiarize yourself with New Cartesian Physic
I wish to see your criticism on the New Cartesian Physic, the founder of which I call myself.
The concept of moving space-matter helped me: The uncertainty principle Heisenberg to make the principle of definiteness of points of space-matter; Open the law of the constancy of the flow of forces through a closed surface is the sphere of space-matter; Open the law of universal attraction of Lorentz; Give the formula for the pressure of the Universe; To give a definition of gravitational mass as the flow vector of the centrifugal acceleration across the surface of the corpuscles, etc.
New Cartesian Physic has great potential in understanding the world. To show this potential in essay I risked give «The way of The materialist explanation of the paranormal and the supernatural” - Is the name of my essay.
Visit my essay and you will find something in it about New Cartesian Physic. Note my statement that our brain creates an image of the outside world no inside, and in external space.
Do not let New Cartesian Physic get away into obscurity! I am waiting your post.
Sincerely,
Dizhechko Boris
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I appreciate your essay. You spent a lot of effort to write it. If you believed in the principle of identity of space and matter of Descartes, then your essay would be even better. There is not movable a geometric space, and is movable physical space. These are different concepts.
I invite you to familiarize yourself with New Cartesian Physic
I wish to see your criticism on the New Cartesian Physic, the founder of which I call myself.
The concept of moving space-matter helped me: The uncertainty principle Heisenberg to make the principle of definiteness of points of space-matter; Open the law of the constancy of the flow of forces through a closed surface is the sphere of space-matter; Open the law of universal attraction of Lorentz; Give the formula for the pressure of the Universe; To give a definition of gravitational mass as the flow vector of the centrifugal acceleration across the surface of the corpuscles, etc.
New Cartesian Physic has great potential in understanding the world. To show this potential in essay I risked give «The way of The materialist explanation of the paranormal and the supernatural” - Is the name of my essay.
Visit my essay and you will find something in it about New Cartesian Physic. Note my statement that our brain creates an image of the outside world no inside, and in external space.
Do not let New Cartesian Physic get away into obscurity! I am waiting your post.
Sincerely,
Dizhechko Boris
To Whom May be Interested
After reading many other entries in this contest and the few responses to this entry, I think something has been missed in this entry.
A point of the little story of the two physics students was to highlight a significant point. They did not see the reality of the situation with the penny. They concluded with their own idea of what happened.
The point is that is that our ability to intend and control our future may well be dependent on something else and we deceive ourselves in seeing the reality of the situation. In other words, "We don't understand anything yet and deceive ourselves thinking we are conscious."
After reading many other entries in this contest and the few responses to this entry, I think something has been missed in this entry.
A point of the little story of the two physics students was to highlight a significant point. They did not see the reality of the situation with the penny. They concluded with their own idea of what happened.
The point is that is that our ability to intend and control our future may well be dependent on something else and we deceive ourselves in seeing the reality of the situation. In other words, "We don't understand anything yet and deceive ourselves thinking we are conscious."
Just thought I would mention: when I first read this essay, I thought the concept of the magic trick from the beginning would crop up in a very different way! When you brought up consciousness as a dimension that can be measured, I was thinking about how flawed our measurement techniques are. Humans often attribute consciousness to unconscious entities; prehistoric humans immediately attributed the chaotic actions of the seas and weather to the whims of angry gods. How can we be sure our perception of consciousness isn't just us tricking ourselves?
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Ben Tolkin
Thank you very much for this observation. That is driving to the heart of what I intended to present. I know my article appears naive compared to the complex articles around me. However, my intention was to drive deep into the heart of the subject without fanfare. To a degree you have made my effort worthwhile. Are we deceiving ourselves?
Thank you very much for this observation. That is driving to the heart of what I intended to present. I know my article appears naive compared to the complex articles around me. However, my intention was to drive deep into the heart of the subject without fanfare. To a degree you have made my effort worthwhile. Are we deceiving ourselves?
My guess is..
You never picked up the topic, or told us what the answer was, but instead told us that we think what we think, and tried to get us to imagine what we need to know in order to find the answers to the essay question for ourselves. Of course; the two students never realized that the coin was never picked up, because their attention was diverted to your hand first - and then when the coin failed to appear, it looked like it had de-materialized. Had they looked on the bed, they would have known the 'heads or tails?' story for real, but neither one did.
I think consciousness is more than just fooling ourselves into believing we are aware, but I also feel certain that many are trapped in an illusion of much greater awareness and control than they actually possess. People could be in control of their lives, but need to engineer the right circumstances to succeed. Most folks could, through mindfulness practice or other means, cultivate a state of taking it all in and having total awareness. That's safe in the forest near my home, but when I am walking the streets of NYC I feel the need to be on high alert while tuning out the sheer intensity of what is going on around me.
I think you made me think.
All the Best,
Jonathan
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You never picked up the topic, or told us what the answer was, but instead told us that we think what we think, and tried to get us to imagine what we need to know in order to find the answers to the essay question for ourselves. Of course; the two students never realized that the coin was never picked up, because their attention was diverted to your hand first - and then when the coin failed to appear, it looked like it had de-materialized. Had they looked on the bed, they would have known the 'heads or tails?' story for real, but neither one did.
I think consciousness is more than just fooling ourselves into believing we are aware, but I also feel certain that many are trapped in an illusion of much greater awareness and control than they actually possess. People could be in control of their lives, but need to engineer the right circumstances to succeed. Most folks could, through mindfulness practice or other means, cultivate a state of taking it all in and having total awareness. That's safe in the forest near my home, but when I am walking the streets of NYC I feel the need to be on high alert while tuning out the sheer intensity of what is going on around me.
I think you made me think.
All the Best,
Jonathan
Aims and intention are mindless mathematical laws. Consciousness, whatever that is, is aware of them but mistakenly believes it has spawned them. The magic of evolution over millions of years and random actions have enabled the survival of the fittest to develop these devices. Recent comments and the articles of others have moved me to refine my thoughts in my initial essay to phrase it in these new words.
Hi Al
A nice thought experiment indeed. I rate your essay highly. Reminded me of sunlit Tuscany where Einstein was supposedly based during some of his epochal Gedankenexperiments. Have you looked into Conway’s Game of Life or the Cellular Automata based ‘science’ is has given rise to. They describe, in a mathematical manner, the process you have discovered in your thought experiment. Some of the submissions here mention these approaches. You may want to check out the essays submitted by Brown and Macleod for instance.
Regards, Willy
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A nice thought experiment indeed. I rate your essay highly. Reminded me of sunlit Tuscany where Einstein was supposedly based during some of his epochal Gedankenexperiments. Have you looked into Conway’s Game of Life or the Cellular Automata based ‘science’ is has given rise to. They describe, in a mathematical manner, the process you have discovered in your thought experiment. Some of the submissions here mention these approaches. You may want to check out the essays submitted by Brown and Macleod for instance.
Regards, Willy
Willy:
Thanks for your suggestions. Some of the material you refer to was on my mind as I wrote the essay. In general, I am overwhelmed by the references and big words used in most of these essays. I appreciate Brown’s comment of the difference between those that write and those that know. I am curious; however, how many of these essays suggest that we are deceiving ourselves? I feel as if I am not well read. One of my motivations in all of this is an intense study of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and Feynman’s QED. I am not aware that contemporary physics has viewed the development of general relativity in the light of QED. As I understand, Einstein developed general relativity before QED was voiced. One of my bedrocks in physics is Einstein’s special relativity. I feel that a correct understanding of that would unravel the rug called quantum mechanics.
Thanks for your suggestions. Some of the material you refer to was on my mind as I wrote the essay. In general, I am overwhelmed by the references and big words used in most of these essays. I appreciate Brown’s comment of the difference between those that write and those that know. I am curious; however, how many of these essays suggest that we are deceiving ourselves? I feel as if I am not well read. One of my motivations in all of this is an intense study of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and Feynman’s QED. I am not aware that contemporary physics has viewed the development of general relativity in the light of QED. As I understand, Einstein developed general relativity before QED was voiced. One of my bedrocks in physics is Einstein’s special relativity. I feel that a correct understanding of that would unravel the rug called quantum mechanics.
Al,
Nicely done. I agree with all you write and infer. Self deception is our best developed skill!
Also with your comment above; "One of my bedrocks in physics is Einstein’s special relativity. I feel that a correct understanding of that would unravel the rug called quantum mechanics.
My essays here have taken that exact journey, finalists since 2010 ('2020 Vision' saying it'll take 20 years to enter doctrine)and recently tested the apparently consistent derivation of SR (fermions dictate local c by interaction) on QM and finding a unified classical description of both.
I may be deluding myself so please do read my essay and tell me! (have a first glimpse from this ; 100sec version of the video. (I also discuss why our brains delude us). However it's now 17 years on and no hint of change so I suspect it may be the majority mass delusion that wins out!
But do you have hope one day intelligence may emerge? (I remain undecided).
Thanks for a nice if short journey.
Best
Peter
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Nicely done. I agree with all you write and infer. Self deception is our best developed skill!
Also with your comment above; "One of my bedrocks in physics is Einstein’s special relativity. I feel that a correct understanding of that would unravel the rug called quantum mechanics.
My essays here have taken that exact journey, finalists since 2010 ('2020 Vision' saying it'll take 20 years to enter doctrine)and recently tested the apparently consistent derivation of SR (fermions dictate local c by interaction) on QM and finding a unified classical description of both.
I may be deluding myself so please do read my essay and tell me! (have a first glimpse from this ; 100sec version of the video. (I also discuss why our brains delude us). However it's now 17 years on and no hint of change so I suspect it may be the majority mass delusion that wins out!
But do you have hope one day intelligence may emerge? (I remain undecided).
Thanks for a nice if short journey.
Best
Peter
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