Tegmark's Mathematical Universe
"Lee Corbin" <[email protected]> Thu, 20 Mar 2014 07:36:05 -0700
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Max Tegmark’s recent book “The Mathematical Universe” may or may not have
more basic ideas than his previous papers, and the great May 2003 article in
Scientific American.
I like very much the following breakdown due to Tegmark:
We live in
1. a “level one” infinite universe, containing infinitely many stars and
galaxies
2. a larger “level two” infinite universe, in which our level one universe
is but
one of many, distinguished by different physical constants
3. the “level three” infinite universe consisting of all the MWI branches of
our
level one universe--presumably we inhabit few other level two universes
4. the (doubtful, I think) “level four” universe containing all mathematical
structures, which actually constitute the previous levels
First, though, extremely annoying is his terminological predilection of
calling our visible universe (i.e. our Hubble volume) a “universe”. It has
the unfortunate implication that we don’t live in the same universe as the
good citizens of a planet in the great Andromeda galaxy who are equally
advanced technically, for they can see over a million light years further in
the directions of the constellations Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and Pegasus, to
mention just three. It’s much more convenient to think of our friends in
Andromeda inhabiting the same universe we do, but whose Hubble volume is
slightly different, of course.
But that terminological annoyance aside, readers of FoR shouldn’t have much
to argue with Tegmark about.
Until, that is, we come to his contention that mathematics is all there is,
that we as individuals are SASs (Self Aware Structures), and so on. To
investigate that contention, and to revisit issues explored online here and
elsewhere a decade or more ago, let’s start with computer emulations of
conscious beings.
I don’t think it controversial to readers of FoR that computer programs can
emulate conscious beings; e.g., for all you know now, you may simply be a
running computer program.
Then let’s imagine that we have a program that emulates the torture of a
small kitten for two minutes. That is, the 2-minute run of the program is
“equivalent” to an actual small cat undergoing terrible suffering. Then on
moral grounds, wouldn’t we object to someone using his computer to run that
program? In particular, let’s say that the program executes 10 million
instructions per second, and that, say, it takes 10 seconds to run the
program. (Thus the software kitten lives at 1/5 the rate we do.)
Moreover, it is possible (but time consuming) to single-step through the
program with a debugger. Whatever time it takes, the end result is still
just as morally reprehensible, right?
This simple approach is the quickest way to undermine the mathematical
universe, and In this, ultimately, lies its downfall, I'll argue.
Lee
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<p>Max Tegmark=E2=80=99s recent book =E2=80=9CThe Mathematical Univer=
se=E2=80=9D may or may not have <br>
more basic ideas than his previous papers, and the great May 2003 article i=
n <br>
Scientific American.<br>
<br>
I like very much the following breakdown due to Tegmark:<br>
<br>
We live in<br>
1. a =E2=80=9Clevel one=E2=80=9D infinite universe, containing infinitely m=
any stars and <br>
galaxies<br>
2. a larger =E2=80=9Clevel two=E2=80=9D infinite universe, in which our lev=
el one universe <br>
is but<br>
one of many, distinguished by different physical constants<br>
3. the =E2=80=9Clevel three=E2=80=9D infinite universe consisting of all th=
e MWI branches of <br>
our<br>
level one universe--presumably we inhabit few other level two universes=
<br>
4. the (doubtful, I think) =E2=80=9Clevel four=E2=80=9D universe containing=
all mathematical<br>
structures, which actually constitute the previous levels<br>
<br>
First, though, extremely annoying is his terminological predilection of <br=
>
calling our visible universe (i.e. our Hubble volume) a =E2=80=9Cuniverse=
=E2=80=9D. It has <br>
the unfortunate implication that we don=E2=80=99t live in the same universe=
as the <br>
good citizens of a planet in the great Andromeda galaxy who are equally <br=
>
advanced technically, for they can see over a million light years further i=
n <br>
the directions of the constellations Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and Pegasus, to=
<br>
mention just three. It=E2=80=99s much more convenient to think of our frien=
ds in <br>
Andromeda inhabiting the same universe we do, but whose Hubble volume is <b=
r>
slightly different, of course.<br>
<br>
But that terminological annoyance aside, readers of FoR shouldn=E2=80=99t h=
ave much <br>
to argue with Tegmark about.<br>
<br>
Until, that is, we come to his contention that mathematics is all there is,=
<br>
that we as individuals are SASs (Self Aware Structures), and so on. To <br>
investigate that contention, and to revisit issues explored online here and=
<br>
elsewhere a decade or more ago, let=E2=80=99s start with computer emulation=
s of <br>
conscious beings.<br>
<br>
I don=E2=80=99t think it controversial to readers of FoR that computer prog=
rams can <br>
emulate conscious beings; e.g., for all you know now, you may simply be a <=
br>
running computer program.<br>
Then let=E2=80=99s imagine that we have a program that emulates the torture=
of a <br>
small kitten for two minutes. That is, the 2-minute run of the program is <=
br>
=E2=80=9Cequivalent=E2=80=9D to an actual small cat undergoing terrible suf=
fering. Then on <br>
moral grounds, wouldn=E2=80=99t we object to someone using his computer to =
run that <br>
program? In particular, let=E2=80=99s say that the program executes 10 mill=
ion <br>
instructions per second, and that, say, it takes 10 seconds to run the <br>
program. (Thus the software kitten lives at 1/5 the rate we do.)<br>
<br>
Moreover, it is possible (but time consuming) to single-step through the <b=
r>
program with a debugger. Whatever time it takes, the end result is still <b=
r>
just as morally reprehensible, right?<br>
<br>
This simple approach is the quickest way to undermine the mathematical <br>
universe, and In this, ultimately, lies its downfall, I'll argue.<br>
<br>
Lee<br>
<br>
</p>
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