the universe as a computer game

CSR: Culture, Science and Religion The Universe as a Computer Game page 1 2-1-2016 picture by:

CSR: Culture, Science and Religion The Universe as a Computer Game page 2 2-1-2016

Content

Introduction

Metaphysics in a Nutshell

Consequences for Physics

Discussion and Conclusions


An actual question, NRC, 29-11-2015

Is the universe a

computer?

article in NRC (a

Dutch newspaper)

on 29-11-2015.


The demon of Laplace (1794-1827) We have to consider the actual state of the

universe as the effect of its previous state, and as

the cause of the state that will follow.

Imagine an intelligent being which, at a

certain time, would know all the forces at

work in nature, and the respective

location of all the beings that compose it.

If it were powerful enough to analyze these data,

it could embrace together in the same formula

the movements of the largest bodies of the

universe and those of the lightest atom. Nothing

would be uncertain for this intelligent being and

both the future and the past would be present to

its eyes.

A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities, 1814


Game of Life (Conway 1970) I

Game of life: Cellular Automaton

Rules 1. Any live cell with fewer than two live

neighbours dies, as if by loneliness.

2. Any live cell with more than three live

neighbours dies, as if by

overcrowding.

3. Any live cell with two or three live

neighbours lives, unchanged, to the

next generation.

4. Any dead cell with exactly three live

neighbours comes to life.

/ Gosper Glider Gun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:John_H_Conway_2005.jpg

http://www.bitstorm.org/gameoflife/standalone/

http://www.bitstorm.org/gameoflife/standalone/


Game of Life (Conway 1970) II

man (intelligent being) formulates rules of

the game

rules are set of commands in a code

on display: generation of pattern:

grow - extinction

static - dynamic

randomness - symmetry

in game of life: mind of man

→rules of the game

→objects of virtual reality on display

in real world: someone (intelligent being)?

→rules of the game

→objects of reality

random start

after 815 generations:

stable pattern


designer → design → reality

designer, architect: has an object, a building, in his

mind

design designer or architect transforms

his idea into software;

with this he is able to visualize in

virtual reality

the realized building the contractor together with the

workmen realize the building;

no material is created, only existing

material is transformed to end up

with the building.


the young Paul Davies

Paul Davies was astonished as a

student:

predict the trajectory of a cannonball just

by brief calculation on a backside of the

envelope.


the puzzling question

4 cases: Laplace Demon

Conway’s game of life

architect

cannon ball trajectory

the temporal evolution of physical reality can be explained by

intellectual activity (by a demon, a computer, an architect, a student).

The puzzling question:

Is that happy coincidence,

or is there an ontological basis?


the dilemma of Hawking

- Happy coincidence or ontological basis?

- How can intellectual activity lead to something so

evidently material as our real world?

Even if there is only one possible

unified theory, it is just a set of

rules and equations. What is it

that breathes fire into the

equations and makes a universe

for them to describe?

Stephan Hawking, A brief history of time,

Bantam Books 1998.


Content

Introduction





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM

The cave of Plato (Politeia, 380 B.C.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM

The Cave_ An Adaptation of Plato's Allegory in Clay.mp4


The cave of Plato (Politeia, 380 B.C.)

What we see are the shadows of the world of the ideas;

material reality originates from the immaterial


the metaphysical analysis of Aristotle

material things: physically one, are metaphysically two: -- the (philosophical) matter

-- the form which informs the matter

form of material objects, completely matter free,

is not an object of reality

philosophical matter, completely without information

is not an object of reality

matter and their forms are principles of beings

(not beings on its own)

there are beings without any matter (subsisting forms)

highest subsisting form,

First Cause is existing intellectual being, origin of all reality

matter: hyle (literally wood); form: morphe:

philosophy: hylemorphism


the double aspect of reality philospher material,

what thing is

made of?

information,

how thing is

determined?

what is real? dualism

Platon,

idealists

shadow idea idea weak

Democritus,

atomists

atoms pure

geometry

atoms weak

Aristotle,

realists

matter form,

information

the thing strong

materialists matter chance,

natural laws

matter weak

computer

scientist

hardware software software

implemented

in hardware

strong


A modern analogue to matter and form

hardware - software

software is always implemented in some hardware,

for example: program file: on punch card

on memory-stick

on CD

on hard-disk

as code written on paper

hardware (switched-on) has always certain information, i.e. software

for example: tv monitor movie

news

tele-text

letters of novel

'snow' if only noise at input

Aristotelian language applied to the material reality:

information, the form, has to be implemented in some kind of hardware,

the matter, otherwise it is not real, it is only virtual, virtual reality.


from virtual reality to actual reality

consider virtual reality: rapidly changing colored pixels generated by a computer code

creativity of architect: generates detailed drawings or instructions for constructor

necessary: to be implemented in concrete, stone or wood:

the creation of information: is related to intellectual activity

Is there a creative intellect for all reality? - implementing ideas in matter without need of

existing material;

- the “creative computer game paradigm”

philosophy has no complete answer: in Judeo-Christian tradition: an answer is given


The mystery of creation

with other words:

Heaven and earth have a beginning.

Heaven and earth are created.

There is a creator: God who is

transcending (standing outside)

heaven and earth.

Genesis, chapter 1, Jerusalem

Bible

1. In the beginning

God created heaven

and earth.


Content

Introduction





beyond mechanicism

The Laplace Demon: an efficient data processor (Turing

machine) with code restricted to

classical mechanics

Lord Kelvin: His statement regarding the relation between understanding and

mechanical models is a source of many Scheinprobleme, i.e.

pseudo-questions without cognitive content (Carnap).


the hydrogen atom

hydrogen atom: 1 proton surrounded by 1 electron

circulating charge (the electron)

generates radiation that would cause hydrogen not being stable

(this is evidently against experiment)

possible answer: weirdness of Quantum Mechanics

(i.e. I don’t understand)

alternative approach restrict yourself to known properties of the whole

- wavefunction,

- relevant equations of quantum mechanics (Schrödinger equation),

and expect results giving only the probability of a certain outcome.


the electron in the hydrogen atom

Where is the electron? - is a Scheinproblem;

- question is grammatical correct;

- can not be answered by physicist.

But, why is there no answer? - lack of knowledge?

- insufficient measuring tools?

Answer: reality does not contain the information - there is no localized electron;

- there are only probabilities to find an electron at a certain position.

Creative Computer Game Paradigm - very close to neo-positivism of Mach, Jordan;

- material reality is not more -and also not less- than information

implemented in (philosophical) matter.


Scheinprobleme in science

The following issues appear as Scheinprobleme in the

creative computer game paradigm

The ether wind - Michelson Morey interferometer

weird character of quantum mechanics - entanglement

- collapse of wavefunction

- assumption of hidden variables

Chance hypothesis in evolution - there is no scientific method to proof or deny randomness;

- in subsequent higher structures additional information is provided

(new subroutines).


Content

Introduction





A challenging hypothesis

Laplace: Imagine an intelligent being which, at a certain

time, would know all the forces at work in nature,

and the respective location of all the beings that

compose it.....

a challenging working hypothesis: Imagine a creative intellect who is creator in the

most strict meaning of the word of all reality.

n.b. no proof is given for this hypothesis, - but there is no scientific reason to exclude it;

- many fundamental issues in the foundation of

science appear in a new light.


Some remarks of Einstein I

The eternal mystery of the world is

its comprehensibility... The fact

that it is comprehensible is a

miracle.“ Einstein, „Physics and Reality‟ 1936:

Within the Creative Computer Game

Paradigm:

- comprehensibility is not any more a

surprise.


Some remarks of Einstein II

„Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner

voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory

says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the

secret of the ‘Old One’. I, at any rate, am convinced that

He does not throw dice.“ Einstein: letter to Max Born 1926

In the Creative Computer Game Paradigm,

the software code is ordinary carried out, but

the outcome is open to the direct

intervention of the ‘Old One’.

- In ordinary life First Cause (providence) can

act without interfering with probabilistic

natural laws of QM;

- laws in physics are incomplete.


Conclusions I

There is an astonishing relation between reality and

intellectual activity.

Computer games creating increasingly complex virtual

reality could serve as a paradigm for the above

mentioned astonishing relation.

The ontological basis for this relation may be found in

the hylemorphism of Aristotle and in the creative

power of God in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Within the Creative Computer Game Paradigm many

issues in fundamental science become intelligible.


Conclusions II

It is worthwhile to consider as a working hypothesis:

Imagine a creative intellect who is creator in the most

strict meaning of the word of all reality.