Is The Universe A Computer? | Idea Channel | PBS Digital Studios
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy is about everything.
Life, the
Universe, everything. If you've read these amazing books, you know the answer is 42, but what's the question? To find out what the question was, they built a giant computer we call
Earth. And though it seems silly, perhaps
Douglas Adams was correct, and that not just earth, but the WHOLE UNIVERSE is an incredibility complex computational system, processing the answer to some unknown question.
The universe IS made up of information, similar to a computer, and physics (you know, the basis of the universe) certainly is based on computational principles. But is it running some grand program? Will the answer be 42? Make sure you have your towel, and watch the episode!
Reading List:
--
An Introduction to Digital Philosophy,
Edward Fredkin,
International Journal of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 42,
No. 2,
February 2003 ( C °
2003) -
Edward Fredkin1
-- The Computable Universe, edited by
Hector Zenil
--
Information, Physics,
Quantum:
The Search for
Links, by
John Archibald Wheeler
--
Against Digital Ontology -
Luciano Floridi
"a computer of such infinite and subtle complexity that organic life itself will form part of its operational matrix."
http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/
THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio4
.htm
Simulation Argument:
http://www.simulation-argument.com/
Numberphile Videos:
Is
Zero Even? - Numberphile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t1TC-5OLdM
Problems with Zero - Numberphile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRRolKTlF6Q
Zero Factorial - Numberphile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfk_L4Nx2ZI
Tweet of the week:
https://twitter.com/cadelllast/status/343405610655678464
Music:
"
Europe" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
"
Carry on
Carillon" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
"
Bouncy Castle" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
":P" by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
Level 5:
Room for the
Homeless
http://www.jamendo.com/en/
list/a101325/level-5
Chiptune - Kenzalol
https://soundcloud.com/chiptune/kenzalol
Clockwork -
Titan (geometry remix)
https://soundcloud.com/wompworthy/clockwork-titan-geometry-remix
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Want some more Idea Channel?
Here's
Last Week's episode: "Is
Math A
Feature of
The Universe or a Feature of
Human Creation? http://youtu.be/TbNymweHW4E
Want another one? Here ya go: "Is Developing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethical?" http://youtu.be/95KhuSbYJGE
Here's Some More: "Is Sad Music
Actually Sad?" http://youtu.be/bWWYE4eLEfk