Re: Immortality

From: Dan Fabulich (daniel.fabulich@yale.edu)
Date: Sun Dec 17 2000 - 21:22:23 MST


Samantha Atkins wrote:

> That depends on what you mean by "state". A general purpose computer
> has a finite number of possible states if looked at at the bit or
> physical component level. But because it is reprogrammable (and even
> self-programmable) its "states" in terms of possible contents
> (semantics) are infinite.

Any finite symbol can mean an infinite number of things, but that
doesn't mean that it's in an infinite number of states. Take an
ordinary dot: .

That could mean anything. But it has only one state; it can't change
at all.

> Much like all the possible essays are
> infinite even when expressed with a finite vocabulary.

And this misses something important. You need more than vocabulary:
you need paper. With a finite amount of paper, you can only have a
finite number of essays.

-Dan

      -unless you love someone-
    -nothing else makes any sense-
           e.e. cummings



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