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To: polymuser
One follow-up question: What difference would several hundred bytes vs. zero bytes of pre-existing algorithms in the machine make in its ability to bootstrap per the original question?

False premise. All existence, including the "machine", has a non-zero description length -- if it exists, it contains algorithms. We are not arguing whether or not there were pre-existing bytes (there were pre-existing bytes by definition), only the number of bytes required to do the bootstrap. As is well established in theory, you need very few bytes worth of machine to get the job done.

The machine and the algorithm and the data are not distinct things in the theoretical abstract. Humans create the distinction as an engineering convenience based on how we fabricate computers in practice.

637 posted on 12/29/2005 10:02:12 AM PST by tortoise (All these moments lost in time, like tears in the rain.)
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To: tortoise
The machine and the algorithm and the data are not distinct things in the theoretical abstract. Humans create the distinction as an engineering convenience based on how we fabricate computers in practice.

Low pressure in space aside, haven't you noticed how...well, material the universe tends to be?

In other words, if biochemicals are computing machines, then you might want to treat the possibility that for that case too, as well as for silicon, the machine, the algorithm, and the data are distinct things as well.

Cheers!

987 posted on 12/31/2005 12:05:15 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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