Thomas comments on Can you recognize a random generator? - Less Wrong

2 Post author: uzalud 28 December 2011 01:59PM

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Comment author: Thomas 28 December 2011 10:33:24PM * 0 points [-]

You can update your estimate of the element's half-life, if nothing else.

You can update the half-life from the TIME of the decay. But nothing from the fact that it was the atom number 2 and not the number 1 or any other.

This "view" has been experimentally tested

I know. That's way I keep bringing up this "true random" case.

Comment author: Normal_Anomaly 29 December 2011 02:05:22AM 1 point [-]

If I understand correctly, there is no physical difference between atom 2 and atom 1. There just is no fact of the matter to update on.

Comment author: Thomas 29 December 2011 02:57:01PM 1 point [-]

Say you have two diamonds, both marked with a million uranium 238 atoms.

You can measure in WHICH diamond the first decay will occur. An evidence you can't use it for any update then.