Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TigerPaw who wrote (7869)	9/7/2001 11:56:43 AM
From: cosmicforce	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

<a computer model of the weather > I guess my main disagreement was the characterization of the random number function as being chaotic. Randomness is only one aspect of chaotic systems. Your weather example is done through FEM. The higher orders in the differential is what gives rise to the unpredictability in these systems. These are calculated deterministically (each element of the FEM is literally calculated to a single very accurate answer). Between cells, there is only one answer and you could calculate the answer to any precision you want. In toto, though, the answer becomes non-deterministic because of the form of the equations and the relationship between the deterministic answers in individual cells. Even simple systems like the "3 body problem" of classical physics become unpredictable outside of small areas of forecast (both forward and backward in time). In the "real world", QM provides the same effect as truncation effects in digital FEM. You just never get to know what pushes you one way or another in the solution - it could be in the gazillionth decimal place from multiple sources. The fact is that SOMETHING may, you just don't get to know about it or predict it. You can however, assign the several outcomes a nearly equal probability, which supports my view of consciousness being like a surfer on these waves possible outcomes. That is frustrating, isn't it?