Strange7 comments on There just has to be something more, you know? - Less Wrong

13 Post author: Academian 24 March 2010 12:38AM

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Comment author: Strange7 24 March 2010 11:39:47PM 2 points [-]

What's the difference?

Remove the complicated glider-recognition algorithm and the things it's designed to recognize will still be there.

Comment author: bogus 24 March 2010 11:46:31PM *  0 points [-]

Remove the complicated glider-recognition algorithm and the things it's designed to recognize will still be there.

But you will be unable to exhibit them without adding the algorithm right back. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Comment author: RobinZ 24 March 2010 11:59:20PM *  4 points [-]

It is perfectly possible for a Conway's-Life universe to contain a glider without containing anything that can identify a glider, either within it or within its fundamental physics (i.e. source code). Despite this, if the pattern

XX
X X
X

should appear in the grid on one particular generation, if no other live cells intrude, the pattern will appear again one square northwest from before four generations later.

Likewise, a tree falling in the forest with noone around will create acoustic vibrations, even if it creates no auditory experience.