From: Walter Hicks (wallyshoes@mindspring.com)
Date: Fri Jul 04 2003 - 10:22:50 EDT
Glen Morton said -- among other things:
> And one
> thing I do know is that a calculation does entail the manipulation of
> physical objects, if we can solve a problem requiring more objects than
> exist in our universe, then it is correct that it will be difficult to avoid
> the MWH hypothesis.
>
I struggle with the notion that the number of
particles in the universe can limit the possible
outcomes of an event. Let me say simply why.
Consider arranging the people on this planet into
various locations. Take a small number of them --
say one million and then place them in the various
locations when people are known to exist. The
first may be put in (say) any one of 1 billion
locations. the second similarly. So we get as the
possible numbers 10^9*10^9*10^9..........*10( with
there being 10^6 terms. This number is
10^(9+9+9+.....+9) = 10^9^10^6. --- one whopper
of a number..
I can envision many cases where the number of
possible outcomes is greater than the number of
protons in the universe. It is not only the number
of protons, but where they are located as well and
how they vary from moment ot moment. why should
the actual number of protons represent some sort
of limit? Are not the number of eigenvalues of one
single particle much greater than this so-called
magical number?
Searching for understanding.
Walt
-- =================================== Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>In any consistent theory, there must exist true but not provable statements. (Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic If you have already found the truth without it. (G.K. Chesterton) ===================================
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