X-Message-Number: 11681 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: answers to Damien Broderick and Mike Perry Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 23:00:04 +1000 (EST) To Damien Broderick: What you say is fine, and I am personally interested in quantum computation. However if we are trying to emulate the Universe we don't just have billions of atoms, we have billions of galaxies and billions of stars in many of these. Every one of these objects acts in parallel and independently, together with the billions of atoms they contain. If we do the computations it does not seem to me that your quantum computer (which I actually hope can someday be built --- not everyone believes they are possible) will be fast enough. Furthermore, I claimed that any computer with even a low ability to imitate the universe would necessarily have to be parallel. Quantum computing is one more means to produce a parallel computer (but the version you suggest may not be sufficiently parallel to do even a very good emulation, not to mention an accurate one). To Mike Perry (Message 11679): If you want to do theology, you are welcome to do it. I have no way to argue against theology. Most of your posting in this Cryonet basically justifies the notion that we might be virtual beings in a computer program. I will note, however, that you say that you do not believe in this possibility. As I've been saying, it's very important that a device with awareness interact with the real world; and you suggest that this is what you want. Great! I may still disagree with you on just how soon and how easily we will be able to make any such device, but we may have started to agree on what is IN PRACTICE needed for awareness. Still, I'd like your answers to my reply to the previous Cryonet. Best and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=11681