X-Message-Number: 8159 Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 11:35:23 +0100 From: John de Rivaz <> Subject: Re: simulation overload In article: <> writes: (Ettinger) > > 3. He denies the simulation overload problem. Of course you can > > have computer simulations within simulations, and you can run a > > simulation of one computer on another computer; but if you have > > just one, finite set of hardware (the "original" or "real" world), > > and if simulated worlds breed sub-simulations (all a bit different) > > ad infinitum, then the system will soon, for all practical > > purposes, grind to a halt, if it doesn't crash altogether. (Metzner) > > Your ignorance of simulations is showing. > > A simulated computer in that universe is going to be pretty much like > any other simulated object. My simulator isn't going to care what its > simulating. You are attributing magical properties to computers. I am wondering whether I am ignorant as well. Surely if you have 32 MB free RAM in your computer and a simulation (of another computer) requires 8MB of overhead, if you run it once then you have 24MB to play with. If within the first simulation you run another which also requires 8MB then you have only 16 MB left. You can repeat the process until you have zero left and the computer will cease to function. It may close down in an orderly manner or crash depending on how well Windows95 or whatever operating system you are using has been installed, but it will still cease to accept any further simulations. Therefore you could not have an infinite number of artificial universes in a computer with the inhabitants of each one simulating another one. -- ***************************************** Sincerely, * Longevity Report * * http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/lr.htm * John de Rivaz * Fractal Report * * http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/fr.htm * * Music I like - see homepage * ***************************************** In the information age, sharing can increase world wealth enormously, because giving information does not decrease your information. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JohndeR Fast loading, very few slow pictures Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8159