Comments on: Reflections on Stephen Wolfram’s A New Kind of Science

By: Sebastián

Sebastián — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:19:43 +0000

I like the way, at some points, you give Wolfram (or any reader, such as myself, for that matter) new ideas/insight about his own work. (p.s. sorry for my english)

By: DanH

DanH — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:58:12 +0000

Seconded. Thanks Dr. Kurzweil.

By: MarkG

MarkG — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:09:55 +0000

One brilliant man carefully considers another brilliant man’s sweeping work. A very thought-provoking perspective. Thanks, an enjoyable read.

By: Nature’s Organizing Principles | Patterns In Nature Blog

Nature’s Organizing Principles | Patterns In Nature Blog — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:04:59 +0000

[...] Nature’s Organizing Principles Posted by Bill Graham on Oct 30, 2012 in Just Patterns | 0 comments " …the specific set of particles that comprise my body and brain are completely different from the atoms and molecules that comprised me only a short while ago. … most of our cells are turned over in a matter of weeks. Even those that persist longer (like neurons) nonetheless change their component molecules in a matter of weeks. So I am a completely different set of stuff than I was a month ago. All that persists is the pattern of organization of that stuff." – Ray Kurzweil [...]

By: zawy

zawy — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:47:13 +0000

Although Ray has many good comments here, there are also errors. First, non-repeating, non-reversible changing information patterns above absolute zero require at least k*T*log(2) energy per bit in closed memory systems. This means biological patterns are not a separate category from “all of physics” as Ray says. The randomness of the 2nd law is ultimately based in quantum mechanics and whatever theories come later. If NKS-like thinking replaces QM, then it encapsulates the 2nd law, which will encapsulate the random part of the evolution of patterns. So the dance and it’s randomness are not necessarily outside NKS. Similarly, his discussion of relativity only touches on how he might immediately apply CA rules to come up with a mathematically-equivalent system, but the point of NKS is to find deeper rules and then convert them to simpler deterministic equations if we prefer and are able. Although lengthy to calculate, the CA rules could follow Occam’s razor and have higher compressibility and history has shown this method to allow more unforeseen predictions.

By: PK

PK — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:16:50 +0000

A very useful dissection of Wolfram’s complex ideas, I thank you.

By: jnjnjn

jnjnjn — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:24:57 +0000

It seems to me that Stephen is confusing the tool he uses – i.e. a computer – with reality, and that you do the same, only your tool is your mind.