Is The Universe Being Generated By A Computer Prog, What's your opinion?

The scientist Steven Wolfram believes that it is possible that the entire universe is being generated by a computer program. A while ago, some other scientists found that an element had altered its spectral signature over a long period of time. This could be because of the iteration of a glitch in some giant computer program. I personally find this idea hard to believe, but this may be because I am just uncomfortable with the idea. What does everyone else think?

Another great Groucho Marx quip:

Groucho, as is his wont, says something offensive within earshot of a rather homely spinster-type woman. The woman says, "Well, I never!". And Groucho says, "Yeah, I can see why not!"

I think it's a crackpot notion.

Why not, although the spectral shift might be due to isotopic variation over time?

This is extremely unlikely, as such computer should be larger, then the whole observable Universe. Nevertheless, the recursive fractal character of Aether foam can make the illusion, every part of Universe is simulated the other.

In this instance, either the words computer program or god can be used. All the arguments and the retorts would be the same.

This crack-pot is definitely calling the kettle black.

Well... It is theoretically possible, but i do not think so... This is why i voted ''No''.
NeoNo.1

Hmmmm. Interesting responses.

The same scientist who had the idea in the first place thinks that the universe could be being generated by the iteration of four lines of the computer language Mathematica (which he invented). If the universe were updated very, very slowly, the computer generating it would not need to be as massive as you suggest.

Many other physicists would agree with you. It is a very unusual notion.

It's also possible that the scientists who carried out the experiment indicating the spectral shift messed up, although no one has managed to prove that yet.

Yes, but with minor differences.

That's a good one!



- Gehn

P.S. Yes!! 100th post!

This post has been edited by Gehn on Sep 5 2007, 08:24 PM

What if the universe is alive? Not necessarily intelligent, but like a plant?

Just another crackpot idea..or is it?

Well, it all depends on how you define life. Steven Wolfram defines life as something complex, but he says that the universe can be generated by just four lines of computer programming - and therefore is simple (he defines complexity by how hard it is to generate something e.g. he thinks Pi is simple because it is easy to generate).

We can't really prove whether the universe is alive or not, but it's always possible!

- Gehn

I voted maybe. I think it depends on how you define "program." It would seem that our universe boils down to a lot of very complex math. Math underlies everything. Think of that big element chart where each one has a nice neat number of electrons, neutrons, and protons. It is the way a computer would arrange things. If I were to look at the universe in "code" (if I could), it looks like a computer did it. There is an equasion for everything that ever happens. Then, we have some really smart guys who can look at the "code" as code, people like Newton, Einstein, Hawkings, and some people here, crack more and more codes. If there is a God, then He must have the mind of a computer.



So, when someone messes around with the atom and such, are they "hacking?"

Who programmed the computer?

Futuristic robots have plugged our fleshy bodies into water chriopods and computerized us into this decieving holographic world... Why do you think i'm called Neo

This idea of the universe as a computer program may be related to the recent discovery of a vast truly empty "hole" in the universe south west of the constellation of Orion in the sky. The evidence for such a hole is quite strong now, since it has been confirmed observationally in two completely different ways.

Things are pretty quiet out there in the world of Physics right now, for such a "hole" completely invalidates current models of the origin, formation and evolution of the universe.

The average person looking up at the sky at night or looking at a tree, or person, can readily see that the universe consists of complex information. However, only a trained scientist can appreciate HOW complex the universe is, and the extent to which each separate part is related to the existence of the whole.

I voted maybe, not because I do not believe the universe is a construct for in my opinion, it is virtually certain that the universe IS a construct of some kind. I just think that "computer program" is insufficient terminology to describe adequately this cosmos we live in.

However, I would like to note that no information storing device made by mankind is completely devoted to the storage of information. In the case of a CD for example, there is a "hole" in the middle where the outside circular moment can be applied, permitting the reading of the information stored on the CD.

If the universe IS indeed a construct, it is completely reasonable to expect to find a "hole" somewhere, where no information is stored...ie...no stars, galaxies or dark matter are found....