RE: seti@home is SORTA WORKING

Rob Harris Cen-IT (Rob.Harris@bournemouth.gov.uk)
Thu, 15 Jul 1999 12:56:18 +0100

> >A system with a load of variables that we can't track at this tech
> >level is
> >not "unpredictable", it is "very hard to predict", if you want to be
> >correct.
>
> I think N-body systems are 'chaotic', meaning that extremely small
> differences in initial conditions can result in immense differences in
> outcomes, over sufficient time. While the computation may be
> impractical, I suppose that in principle the motions of an N-body
> gravitational system may be predictable from a classical perspective.
> But that does not take into account
quantum fluctuations, which I suppose
> are in principle unpredictable.
>
Does anyone know about the principle of true uncertainty? Often when I discuss determinism and causality with people, they pull out the old "Quantum uncertainty" thing. I don't know what this is, or if it really describes true uncertainty (i.e. truly spontaneous occurrences). I doubt it. Ron, can you expand the uncertainty detail at all? Anyone else...?

Cheers,

Rob.



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