Philosophy Wire: Learning to compute…

Quantum physicists at the University of Sussex have created an algorithm that speeds up the rate of calculations in the early quantum computers which are currently being developed. They have created a new way to route the ions -- or charged atoms - around the quantum computer to boost the efficiency of the calculations. [1] But how can you learn to compute without knowing how to compute? In a void cosmos we once learnt how to count. Alone. But take a breath. Look around. Think. In a cosmos without any numbers, do you really trust yourself with counting? (Listen to the kid) Why are you laughing?

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Philosophy Wire: Possible values… Actual values…

Researchers have implemented a prototype quantum device that can generate and analyze a quantum superposition of possible futures. Using a novel quantum algorithm, the possible outcomes of a decision process are encoded as a superposition of different photon locations. Using interferometry, the team show that it is possible to conduct a search through the set of possible futures without looking at each future individually. [1]

Possible values. Actual values.
For the cosmos, it matters not.
For the values are not the ones describing it.
Nor the potential of these values.

A circle drawn on the dirt.
Infinite. Finite. Indescribable.
The circle cannot be measured.

The wind has risen…

The circle is fading now… 

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Philosophy Wire: Possible values… Actual values…

Researchers have implemented a prototype quantum device that can generate and analyze a quantum superposition of possible futures. Using a novel quantum algorithm, the possible outcomes of a decision process are encoded as a superposition of different photon locations. Using interferometry, the team show that it is possible to conduct a search through the set of possible futures without looking at each future individually. [1]

Possible values. Actual values.

For the cosmos, it matters not.
For the values are not the ones describing it.
Nor the potential of these values.

A circle drawn on the dirt.

Infinite. Finite. Indescribable.
The circle cannot be measured.

The wind has risen…
The circle is fading now…

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Philosophy Wire: Controlling unwanted states

While conventional computers use binary digits, or 0s and 1s, to encode information in transistors, quantum computers use subatomic particles or superconducting circuits known as transmons to encode that information as a qubit. This means that it is in a superposition of both 0 and 1 at the same time, allowing users to compute on different sequences of the same qubits simultaneously. Transmons can exist in a huge number of states: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. An ideal quantum computer only uses states 0 and 1, as well as superpositions of these, otherwise errors will emerge in the quantum computation. Researchers from the University of Warwick's Department of Physics developed a quantum computer program to detect the presence of 'leakage', where information being processed by a quantum computer escapes from the states of 0 and 1. [1]

Unwanted states.
Funny.
How can anything be limited to the things we want?
How can anything escape those limits if there are none?
Can the cosmos fit into a little box?
Can the cosmos escape a non-existent box?

We believe we found discrete states of the cosmos.
But the only thing we did…
Was to create specific discrete states in our mind.

The cosmos does not stop existing between quanta.
From second to second…
From number to number…
The cosmos is still there.

Even when you see nothing.
Start counting.

0ne…
Tw…

Wait a minute.
What is the next number of one?
Can you walk even a single step?

Funny.

The only way to reach the end of the cosmos is to stay where you are.
And just look carefully around you…

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Philosophy Wire: Thinking. Energy. Being.

Scientists have developed 'neuristor' circuits that behave similarly to biological neurons in the human brain, which can perform complex computations using an incredibly small amount of power. [1] We are used of thinking more and more. But at the end, the highest level of thinking is non-thinking. We are used to admire long and complex calculations. But even the most complex calculation ends up in zero. 1. 1+1. 2. 2+1 … Does it matter if we write 1+1 or 2? Does it matter how many numbers we have? Do you believe that we have numbers at all? At the end, everything is a tautology. Look at the mirror. It all started with One. And no matter how you express it, it will always stay as Is.

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Philosophy Wire: Numeric sense: An ancient “knowledge”…

A research suggests that the coarse, primitive numerical ability shared across many species stems from the subcortex, an evolutionarily older brain structure. [1] We knew how to count since we were young. And we believe we must still continue doing so. But in order to grow up we need to forget what we knew and learn new things. To grow up we need to stop counting…

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Philosophy Wire: Learning. Via moving.

Math are learned best by children when they move. [1] Everything we see is based on numbers. But numbers lead to infinity. And the arrow will never reach its target. Stay still. And then you might hear the rustling of the leaves…

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Philosophy Wire: Knowing…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2017-02-13]: Spatial reasoning measured in infancy predicts how children do at math at four years of age, finds a new study. It provides the earliest documented evidence for a relationship between spatial reasoning and math ability. [1]

We learn math because we measure space.
But how can we measure?
How do we understand what “space” even is?

You can only know what you already know…

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Philosophy Wire: Dyslexia. Maths. The "unorthodox" way...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-11-05]: The brains of children with dyslexia rely on unusual strategies to solve certain kinds of math problems, researchers report in the Nov. 1 NeuroImage. The findings could explain why dyslexia, a disorder of reading, can bring math troubles too. [1] But who defines the "correct" way? Only if you are willing to do the "wrong" thing will you be able to progress. And we are too... "healthy" to do that.

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Philosophy Wire: Mathematics & Beauty

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-03-26]:

Brain scans show a complex string of numbers and letters in mathematical formulae can evoke the same sense of beauty as artistic masterpieces and music from the greatest composers. [1]
The strictest form of science is drived by beauty rather than anything else.
Something unknown but highly illogical drives our need for the truth.
Something we know, but we cannot explain.
The highest level of knowledge, our deepest foundations...
In a beautiful face...

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Philosophy Wire: Forbidden ideas, sets, self-reference...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-01-05]: After a failed try in 2003, German officials are again seeking to ban the country's largest far-right party. State leaders plan to file their case soon with Germany's highest court - but it's a controversial move. [1] How can you predict actions based on the theory? Must you ban a bad theory? If you the one who judges then you can easily... decide. But then you will have nothing to protect you when your theory becomes the "bad" one... But what if the ideas of the other forbid... ideas? Then we should ban them! But can you ban the banning? Self-reference. Sets. Bloody Cantor... We need a politician to solve the greatest of all mathematical problems! Because at the end everything is a matter of decision.

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Philosophy Wire: US, mathematics, "predictions"...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-11-07]: Maths showed the US shutdown coming [1]. Always funny to look at "predictions" happening AFTER an event took place…

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Philosophy Wire: Plants, starch, mathematics...

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Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-08-03]: It looks as if plants are able to perform divisions, so that they do not run out of starch during the night. [1] Mathematics seem not only to be inherent for humans, but for the whole cosmos as well...

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Philosophy Wire: Universe, infinity, God...

Help translate the Harmonia Philosophica book in 6 new languages and get valuable perks in return! Support the Indiegogo project now!

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-07-18]: The Universe is limited. Then where did the notion/ idea of "infinity" came from if not from God?

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DIVISION BY ZERO (1/0 = One)

A number cannot be divided by zero. This is what mathematics today claim. But think again. Some years ago, it was not possible to have a number whose square results in a negative number. But then… we thought… why not? And now we have imaginary numbers with tons of applications. Zero is a useful tool and a curse. It represents “nothing”, which philosophically does not exist. But yet, we see it every day in our calculations. Everything is a matter of definition and the sentence “division by zero does not have any meaning” is such a case. If we decide to give meaning to it, then it will instantly have. In a sense we have already allowed division by zero. Consider cases when we want to find the limit (lim) of a fraction whose denominator tends to zero. Mathematics have a great deal of weird theories – why not a theory where division by zero is allowed? The limit is only set by us. And even though many think that allowing division by zero we introduce many inconsistencies in mathematics, consider this: According to Gödel no theory based on specific set of axioms can prove its consistency. Could a theory full of antiphasis be actually the most consistent theory of them all? Thinking logically never served the progress of Science. Zero entails antinomies. And life is full of them. Perhaps the best way to describe the world would be to simply accept what our radical heart want but our cold stubborn logic rejects… Discover the world! Divide by zero!

Related articles: Harmonia Philosophica @ Wordpress

Philosophy Wire: Mathematics, Abel, Pierre. Pierre? Who is Pierre?

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-03-21]:

It has been four decades since Belgian mathematician Pierre Deligne completed the work for which he became celebrated, but that fertile contribution to number theory has now earned him the Abel Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics. The Academy has rewarded Deligne, who works at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, “for seminal contributions to algebraic geometry and for their transformative impact on number theory, representation theory, and related fields”. [source: web news]

Are you worried that you do not know him or his theories? It does not matter. He does not know you either. And anyway: why know theories which have nothing to do with your life?

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Philosophy Wire: Arithmetics, self-reference, consciousness…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-02-24]: Arithmetics cannot examine itself to determine its consistency. This is also true for any other science field. It seems only human consciousness can withstand the implications of self-reference without collapsing. And maybe this is the best proof of its consistency…

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Über formal unentscheidbare Sätze der Principia Mathematica und verwandter Systeme IΙ...

Über formal unentscheidbare Sätze der Principia Mathematica und verwandter Systeme I

(On Formally Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems I)

English

The original paper of Godel with the Incompleteness Theorem was so difficult that not even Bertrand Russell nor Ludwig Wittgenstein were able to follow its argument in the original undiluted form [1]. Many times a philosopher (yes, Godel was one) is not well understood by others... If our understanding of the Incompleteness Theorem is incomplete, then imagine what might be the case for other things Godel proved, like the non-existence of time or the existence of God... Read, Understand and then Criticize...

Let's hope "Über formal unentscheidbare Sätze der Principia Mathematica und verwandter Systeme II" will someday be published by the successor of the so misunderstood (and afraid of) genious...

Related articles: Godel tag


Ελληνικά (Greek)

Το αρχικό paper του Godel στο οποίο περιεχόταν το Θεὠρημα της Μη Πληρότητας ήταν τόσο δύσκολο που ούτε ο  Bertrand Russell ή ο Ludwig Wittgenstein δεν μπορούσαν να το διαβάσουν στην αρχική του μορφή [1]. Πολλές φορές ένα φιλόσοφος (ναι, ο Godel ήταν τέτοιος) δεν κατανοείται από τους άλλους... Αν η κατανόηση μας του Θεωρήματος Μη Πληρότητας είναι τόσο ελλιπής, φανταστείτε τι γίνεται με την απόδειξη περί μη ύπαρξης του Χρόνου ή την απόδειξη περί ύπαρξης Θεού... Διάβασε, Κατανόησε και μετά Κρίνε...

Ας ελπίσουμε ότι το "Über formal unentscheidbare Sätze der Principia Mathematica und verwandter Systeme IΙ" θα εκδοθεί κάποια στιγμή από το διάδοχο της τόσο παρεξηγημένης μεγαλοφυϊας την οποία τόσο πολλοί φοβήθηκαν...

Σχετικά άρθρα: Ετικέτα Godel

Philosophy Wire: Pigeons, mathematics, humans.

 

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-12-24]: Even pigeons know basic mathematics, being able to measure and compare numbers [source: web news]. It seems that what makes us unique is not the fact that we can add or subtract numbers…

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Philosophy Wire: Laden, Science and the certainty of Statistics…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-05-04]: Students of the UCLA university predicted the location of bin Laden’s hideout with great accuracy [source: web news]. The prediction was based on an analysis of the geography of endangered species, according to which species which are endangered ” (such as Bin) prefer to reside in areas with low frequency of species extinction (such as a large city). Impressive discovery. However eventually Laden did not survive and that tactic failed. What does this mean? How valid is a forecast announced after finding Bin Laden? Surely many will say that the research was published many years ago and they will be right. But at the same time as this “prediction” was published, there were many other equally “scientific” forecasts that Laden was elsewhere in the world. If a method makes all possible predictions, is it not reasonable that ultimately one of them will succeed?

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