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If I read this right, it's saying we live in a universe with either a short program, or a fast program (program here means theory). From an algorithmic informat

If I read this right, it's saying we live in a universe with either a short program, or a fast program (program here means theory). From an algorithmic information theory standpoint, this seems to suggest whatever fundamental theory of physics we find, it'll be short. I'm wondering if this points more to a cellular automata style theory being at the root of reality. Maybe Wolfram was right?

amelius 6y ago
Why are we not living in a universe with all possible theories (short and long), and there is only one of these theories which we actually see? Of course, enumerating all possible theories might be actually a simple program ...
- 0-_-0 6y ago
  >Why are we not living in a universe with all possible theories? We are! At least if the article's assumptions are correct, which I think they are.
- smaddox 6y ago
  Wolfram actually touches on this near the end of his fairly recent blog post discussing recent advancements he and his collaborators have made on this topic: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-have-a-path-to-the-fundamental-theory-of-physics-and-its-beautiful/ https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-h...
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thecupisblue 6y ago
I assume it's a simple "cellular automata style theory", a coroutine like recursive function that once we discover, we will notice is obvious at every scale we look at. Wolfram is definitely heading in the right direction. I remember a movie called Digital Physics having a similar plot.
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joe_the_user 6y ago
No program, just the set of a strings (or equivalently all integer). Consciousness interpreters these in the order it chooses, creating time and all the rest.
- mcswell 6y ago
  I'll probably get slapped on the wrist for this, but: Is this a way to understand the seven day time line in the first chapter of Genesis?
badrabbit 6y ago
Do you mean simple/complex? short and fast describe spacetime, fundamental nature of reality breaks down to more fundamental concepts right?
- cromwellian 6y ago
  No, I'm speaking in terms of algorithm information theory and logical depth. A DNA program can be short, with simple rules at the base layer, but the complexity is high at the level of the output of that DNA.

amelius 6y ago

Why are we not living in a universe with all possible theories (short and long), and there is only one of these theories which we actually see? Of course, enumerating all possible theories might be actually a simple program ...

0-_-0 6y ago
>Why are we not living in a universe with all possible theories? We are! At least if the article's assumptions are correct, which I think they are.
smaddox 6y ago
Wolfram actually touches on this near the end of his fairly recent blog post discussing recent advancements he and his collaborators have made on this topic: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-have-a-path-to-the-fundamental-theory-of-physics-and-its-beautiful/ https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-h...

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thecupisblue 6y ago

I assume it's a simple "cellular automata style theory", a coroutine like recursive function that once we discover, we will notice is obvious at every scale we look at. Wolfram is definitely heading in the right direction. I remember a movie called Digital Physics having a similar plot.

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joe_the_user 6y ago

No program, just the set of a strings (or equivalently all integer). Consciousness interpreters these in the order it chooses, creating time and all the rest.

mcswell 6y ago
I'll probably get slapped on the wrist for this, but: Is this a way to understand the seven day time line in the first chapter of Genesis?

badrabbit 6y ago

Do you mean simple/complex? short and fast describe spacetime, fundamental nature of reality breaks down to more fundamental concepts right?

cromwellian 6y ago
No, I'm speaking in terms of algorithm information theory and logical depth. A DNA program can be short, with simple rules at the base layer, but the complexity is high at the level of the output of that DNA.