I thought you were only talking about representing the universe as algorithms, which seems like a good idea. You could also claim that “the universe is an algorithm”, but I find that statement to be too vague, what does ‘is’ mean in this sentence?
The components are you, me, the galaxy, socks, etc.
A subroutine in a program is a distinct part that can be executed repeatedly. Are you saying that the universe has a distinct part dedicated to dealing with socks? To me that sounds like the universe would somehow have to know what is and what is not a sock. (sorry for anthropomorphising the universe there.)
It is mainly the word “subroutine” that I have a problem with, not the universe-as-an-algorithm idea per se.
I thought you were only talking about representing the universe as algorithms, which seems like a good idea. You could also claim that “the universe is an algorithm”, but I find that statement to be too vague, what does ‘is’ mean in this sentence?
Quinean ontological pragmatism just paraphrases existential claims as “x figures in our best explanation of the universe”. So ‘is’ in the sentence “the universe is an algorithm” means roughly the same thing as ‘are’ in the sentence “there are atoms in the universe”.
Are you saying that the universe has a distinct part dedicated to dealing with socks? To me that sounds like the universe would somehow have to know what is and what is not a sock. (sorry for anthropomorphising the universe there.) It is mainly the word “subroutine” that I have a problem with, not the universe-as-an-algorithm idea per se.
I see what you’re saying and on reflection it might be a dangerously misleading thing to say. The best candidate algorithm would not have such subroutines, however more complex but functional identical algorithms would.
I thought you were only talking about representing the universe as algorithms, which seems like a good idea. You could also claim that “the universe is an algorithm”, but I find that statement to be too vague, what does ‘is’ mean in this sentence?
Quinean ontological pragmatism just paraphrases existential claims as “x figures in our best explanation of the universe”. So ‘is’ in the sentence “the universe is an algorithm” means roughly the same thing as ‘are’ in the sentence “there are atoms in the universe”.
I see what you’re saying and on reflection it might be a dangerously misleading thing to say. The best candidate algorithm would not have such subroutines, however more complex but functional identical algorithms would.