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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