4 ms·
I have a loose rule to read parentheses as brain-farts (I think, this applies here, two). The quoted remark assumes the universe was a state-machine. Which is
by posterboy 9y ago
I have a loose rule to read parentheses as brain-farts (I think, this applies here, two).
The quoted remark assumes the universe was a state-machine. Which is a tall order. On the other hand, it's just a reformulation of the "energy is never lost" hypothesis (axiom), or "entropy always increases". But that's really just pop-sci. As was pointed out up-thread, it's rather describing the human way of thinking. Which to me also implies that we like to exaggerate a little: "Of course I could figure out where you were last month, in principle, it's just ... I don't have time for that right now!"
Edited: I always mix up increase and decrease of Entropy.
- krastanov 9y agoThe quote is actually a great way to phrase in simple terms an important property of quantum mechanics. It is called "unitarity" or equivalently "time evolution is described by a unitary linear operator". Obviously, the technical terms would have meant nothing to the general reader, so they were simplified, but they are most definitely not (to quote you) "brain-farts". PS It is more general than a classical state machine. PPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarity_(physics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarity_(physics)
- posterboy 9y agoOK but is there a reason entropy is said to increase? I mean linguistically, if you will. What with "heat death" it doesn't sound too positive.