Am Fr, 12. Jun 2020, um 18:39, schrieb 'Brent Meeker' via Everything List: > > > On 6/12/2020 2:55 AM, Telmo Menezes wrote: >> Hello all, >> >> I've been reading here often the claim that physics is about the "real >> stuff" and math is a human construction that helps us make sense of the real >> stuff, but it is just an approximation of reality. So here's a thought >> experiment on this topic. >> >> Let us imagine I program a digital computer to keep iterating through all >> possible integer values greater than 2 of the variables a, b, c and n. If >> the following condition is satisfied: >> >> a^n + b^n = c^n >> >> then the computer turns on a light. I let it run for one year. Will the >> light turn on during that year? >> >> So my questions are: >> >> (1) Can you use theoretical physics to make a correct prediction? > > Yes. Theory of theoretical physics includes arithmetic and in fact your > question assumes it.
So we can conclude that arithmetic is part of physical reality, at least as much as any other thing that physics talks about? >> (2) Can you use math to make a correct prediction? > > Not unless the math can predict how fast the computer runs It doesn't matter how fast the computer runs, and we know this thanks to a mathematical proof, not a theory in physics. And that's how we know how this particular physical system will behave. > and how reliable it is. If we use Newton's laws to predict the movement of a ball, we assume that someone will not show up and kick it around, that the ball is not unbalanced, etc. Maybe I can suggest a system with an uneven number of redundant computers and such a simple voting mechanism that a probability of failure is infinitesimal, like NASA used to do. It can even be geographically distributed. The voting mechanism itself can become decentralized, something like the bitcoin network. Or I can become more creative and look for some Turing-complete phenomena in nature. You get my point. Telmo. > Brent > > >> >> Notice that I am asking a question that is as hard-nosed as it can be. No >> metaphysics, just a question about an observable event in a physical system >> during a well-defined time period. Will the light turn on? >> >> What gives? >> >> Best, >> Telmo >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Everything List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/fb819e76-2fdd-468c-b21a-96971764d8ab%40www.fastmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/fb819e76-2fdd-468c-b21a-96971764d8ab%40www.fastmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/509f6b31-52a7-17f8-9f8a-8bd258b31d70%40verizon.net > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/509f6b31-52a7-17f8-9f8a-8bd258b31d70%40verizon.net?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/ce9a29de-3210-4c1a-9413-cbc35cbeea1b%40www.fastmail.com.
