From: Michael S. Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Mon Dec 18 2000 - 14:20:36 MST
Damien Broderick wrote:
>
> At 07:56 PM 17/12/00 -0800, samantha wrote:
>
> >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. Much like all the possible essays are
> >infinite even when expressed with a finite vocabulary.
>
> Thus Chomsky trounced Skinner back in 1959. I would have expected this
> insight to be common currency by now...
This only holds if there are infinite numbers of authors, or else all
authors are immortal, and never stop writing.
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