Fundamental physical constants are easy. Consider the shortest algorithm that simulates the universe perfectly. That algorithm will consist of some rules, and some data. The data are fundamental physical constants.
If you can’t measure any of these constants past a hundred significant digits, what does it mean to talk about the constant having any digits beyond that.
Assuming that the way the universe looks changes continuously with these constants, it seems strange to insist that if the changes are so small you can’t notice them they don’t exist. The aliens running the universe might well be able to read off all infinity digits of these constants, and measure precisely what difference changing the nth digit will make for all n.
Consider the shortest algorithm that simulates the universe perfectly.
Meaningless, on my metaphysics. Definition is circular—in order to define fundamental you have to already assume that the universe can be simulated “perfectly”, but to define a perfect simulation you’ll need to rely on concepts like “fundamental”, or “external reality”.
Assuming that the way the universe looks changes continuously with these constants, it seems strange to insist that if the changes are so small you can’t notice them they don’t exist.
The assumption is meaningless. It seems strange to me to insist that something “exists”, especially infinities, which are never observable. On our actual known physics we have strict limits on how much information can be contained in a finite amount of space, but even if we didn’t know that you can’t define these concepts in a noncircular manner.
Fundamental physical constants are easy. Consider the shortest algorithm that simulates the universe perfectly. That algorithm will consist of some rules, and some data. The data are fundamental physical constants.
Assuming that the way the universe looks changes continuously with these constants, it seems strange to insist that if the changes are so small you can’t notice them they don’t exist. The aliens running the universe might well be able to read off all infinity digits of these constants, and measure precisely what difference changing the nth digit will make for all n.
Meaningless, on my metaphysics. Definition is circular—in order to define fundamental you have to already assume that the universe can be simulated “perfectly”, but to define a perfect simulation you’ll need to rely on concepts like “fundamental”, or “external reality”.
The assumption is meaningless. It seems strange to me to insist that something “exists”, especially infinities, which are never observable. On our actual known physics we have strict limits on how much information can be contained in a finite amount of space, but even if we didn’t know that you can’t define these concepts in a noncircular manner.