It from Bit from It from Bit... Nature and Nonlinear Logic by William C. McHarris

Dear William,

A pretty exciting essay! I wish you had included more quantum mechanical details, but we all know how quickly nine pages runs out. I have now read two of your other papers and am still excited.

The topic is especially interesting to me because of a technique I've recently developed which adds non-linearity to the Einstein weak field equations. Adding non-linearity to equations from which the non-linearity has been removed may sound silly, but the result is equations that can be solved more easily. And there are other advantages to this approach. The technique is briefly described in my current essay which I invite you to read and hope you will comment on.

Thank you for entering your current essay and for years of work attempting to educate the world about the surprises that arise from non-linearity. Yours is very valuable essay.

My best regards,

Edwin Eugene Klingman

Dear Sir,

Your highly thought provoking essay is an excellent analysis of an important subject. Here we compliment your essay.

Mathematics is the science of accumulation and reduction of similars or partly similars. The former is linear and the later non-linear. Because of the high degree of interdependence and interconnectedness, it is no surprise that everything in the Universe is mostly non-linear. The left hand sides of all equations depict free will, as we are free to chose or change the parameters. The equality sign depicts the special conditions necessary to start the interaction. The right hand side depicts determinism, as once the parameters and special conditions are determined, the results are always predictable. Hence, irrespective of whether the initial conditions could be precisely known or not, the results are always deterministic. Even the butterfly effect would be deterministic, if we could know the changing parameters at every non-linearity. Our inability to measure does not make it chaotic - "complex, even inexplicable behavior". Statistics only provides the minimal and maximal boundaries of the various classes of reactions, but never solutions to individual interactions or developmental chains. Your example of "the deer population in Northern Michigan", is related to the interdependence and interconnectedness of the eco system. Hence it is non-linear.

Infinities are like one - without similars. But whereas the dimensions of one are fully perceived, the dimensions of infinities are not perceptible. (We have shown in many threads here without contradiction that division by zero is not infinite, but leaves a number unchanged.) We do not know the beginning or end of space (interval of objects) or time (interval of events). Hence all mathematics involving infinities are void. But they co-exist with all others - every object or event exists in space and time. Length contraction is apparent to the observer due to Doppler shift and Time dilation is apparent due to changing velocity of light in mediums with different refractive index like those of our atmosphere and outer space.

Your example of the computation of evolutionary sequence of random numbers omits an important fact. Numbers are the inherent properties of everything by which we differentiate between similars. If there are no similars, then it is one; otherwise many. Many can be 2,3,...n depending upon the sequence of perceptions leading to that number. Often it happens so fast that we do not realize it. But once the perception of many is registered in our mind, it remains as a concept in our memory and we can perceive it even without any objects. When you use "a pseudorandom number generator to generate programs consisting of (almost) random sequences of numbers", you do just that through "comparison and exchange instructions". You develop these by "inserting random minor variations, corresponding to asexual mutations; second, by 'mating' parent programs to create a child program, i.e., by splicing parts of programs together, hoping that useful instructions from each parent occasionally will be inherited and become concentrated" and repeat it "thousands upon thousands of time" till the concept covers the desired number sequences. Danny Hillis missed this reasoning. Hence he erroneously thought "evolution can produce something as simple as a sorting program which is fundamentally incomprehensible". After all, computers are GIGO. Brain and Mind are not redundant.

Much has been talked about sensory perception and memory consolidation as composed of an initial set of feature filters followed by a special class of mathematical transformations which represent the sensory inputs generating interacting wave-fronts over the entire sensory cortical area - the so-called holographic processes. It can explain the almost infinite memory. Since a hologram retains the complete details at every point of its image plane, even if a small portion of it is exposed for reconstruction, we get the entire scene, though the quality is impaired. Yet, unlike an optical hologram, the neural hologram is formed by very low frequency post-synaptic potentials providing a low information processing capacity to the neural system. Further, the distributed memory mechanisms are not recorded randomly over the entire brain matter, as there seems to be preferred locations in the brain for each sensory input.

The impulses from the various sensory apparatus are carried upwards in the dorsal column or in the anterio-lateral spinothalamic tract to the thalamus, which relays it to the cerebral cortex for its perception. At any moment, our sense organs are bombarded by a multitude of stimuli. But only one of them is given a clear channel to go up to the thalamus and then to the cerebral cortex at any instant, so that like photographic frames, we perceive one frame at an instant. Unlike the sensory apparatuses that are subject specific, this happens for all types of impulses. The agency that determines this subject neutral channel, is called mind, which is powered by the heart and lungs. Thus, after the heart stops beating, mind stops its work.

However, both for consolidation and retrieval of sensory information, the holographic model requires a coherent source which literally 'illuminates' the object or the object-projected sensory information. This may be a small source available at the site of sensory repository. For retrieval of the previously consolidated information, the same source again becomes necessary. Since the brain receives enormous information that is present for the whole life, such source should always be illuminating the required area in the brain where the sensory information is stored. Even in dream state, this source must be active, as here also local memory retrieval and experience takes place. This source is the Consciousness.

Regards,

mbasudeba@gmail.com

Hi, Stephen,

What I meant in the Afterword is that, if quantum mechanics really does fundamentally contain nonlinear, even chaotic elements, then trying to apply chaos to quantum mechanics is like trying to apply chaos theory to itself -- hence, the loop, which possibly could explain why there are difficulties with so-called quantum chaos -- and why chaos theory seems to be successful in most disciplines other than quantum mechanics. This is different from the feedback loops inherent in nonlinear dynamics itself. You are astute, however, in pointing out the difficulties associated with the Big Bang and any sort of infinite loop. My experience in cosmology is superficial at best, so I certainly don't want to fall into the trap of presuming things about it. Nevertheless, one can raise some questions. The Big Bang theory results basically from a linear extrapolation back to time near zero, which could be problematical if any nonlinearities were involved. In addition, although Big Bang theory has had considerable success, over the years it has required quite a number of patches and band-aids to touch it up, which is generally taken as a warning sign for any theory -- many cosmologists have questioned the arbitrariness of inflation, in particular. So perhaps the proponents of alternate theories should not be dismissed out of hand, although such theories have generally done poorly in predicting such things as the observed nuclear abundances in the Universe.

Nonlinear systems customarily have rather large dimensional phase spaces, although, surprisingly enough, chaotic behavior in a particular dimension is quite often reflected in other dimensions. For example, time series analysis has been remarkably successful in analyzing chaotic systems, although at first glance it appears to be rather naive. [For example, plotting results from, say, the (n+1)th or even higher iteration against those from the nth iteration is a common method used to detect the underlying map and to distinguish chaotic, i.e., apparently random, systems from truly random systems.] I see no reason why this shouldn't work in your Harmony Set analysis.

I read and worked on your essay and found it to be remarkable, if difficult for a non-philosopher to fathom. (I have my liberal arts education starting at Oberlin College to thank for being able to follow it as well as I did.) I would like to continue to delve into these topics, and I would like to read your book, "The Armchair Universe," when it is completed. (I also plan to look up your other books, such as "The Druid," for oftentimes lighter fare gives insight into the more formal aspects of thinking.) Anyway, thanks a million for your comments and insight.

Cheers,

Bill

Dear D-r William,

I have read your interesting essay and I have find many common points with my confidence. First I want just emphasize that the ,,Copenhagen interpretation,, it just was the political decision only (and not scientific approach!) The long term troubles are start from here! However, your approach on the ,,chaos,, description of the behavior of QM object I see not so right because this concept (chaos) is just non applicable for the single object (as well as the ,,probability,,) The cause of nonlinearity, in my view, is hidden in the mutual deep interconnection of all possible parameters of Quantum object.

The nonlinearity may be represented as the classical transitional process, that is principally is possible to build on the base of wave equations. I am inclined to look your critical approach as very valuable. I hope you will find time to check my work Es text and we can continue talk.

Sincerely,

George

Dr. McHarris,

Thank you for responding to my comments on your essay, and for your careful reading of my own. I agree that we may be touching on related issues from different points of view.

With regard to quantized spin, I have shown that if one assumes that angular momentum of continuous vector fields is quantized in units of h-bar, then the rest of QM follows automatically, without other assumptions. I suggest that a nonlinear self-interaction leads to a soliton-like structure with an amplitude that corresponds to quantized spin, but I have not (yet) specified the mathematical form of such an interaction that can achieve this. This is still a work-in-progress, but the connections thus far are remarkable, including the fact that a form of general relativity follows simply from this picture. Everyone believes that such a neo-classical picture must have been definitely ruled out in the last century, but I have found no trace of anything like this in the early literature.

Thank you also for pointing out the book by Gell-Mann and Tsallis. I am of course familiar with Gell-Mann's earlier work on particle physics, but not with this more recent work.

I would be happy to discuss these issues with you further after the end of this contest. My email address is listed on my essay.

Alan Kadin

Hello Prof. McHarris,

Thank you for your informative essay. Your number A=3.82; could it bi closer to 3.829

This number fits better into my equation:

[math]\gamma= 2^{(cy+p+3t)/(2+2a^{2}m)}=1.0013784192[/math]

Where mathematical constant are:

[math]2\pi=6.2831853, t=log(2\pi,2)=2.6514961295, cy=e^{2\pi}= 535.4916555248 [/math]

Physical constants:

[math]a=1/\alpha=137.035999074, \mu=1836.15267245,m=log(\mu,2)=10.8424703056[/math]

Also:

[math]p=log(Mu/mp,2)=cy/2-(\mu/a+1)/(\mu/a+2)-1=265.8107668189[/math]

I'd like to get your comment on my equation.

Regards Branko

Dear William

It seems that my previous post was erased.

I found your essay very interesting and insightful. I'm interesting in understanding how nonlinear dynamics can explain quantum phenomena such as entanglement and the double slit experiment. I mean what would be the physical interpretation of those experiments. I would appreciate any comments you may have.

I think that you essay is of great impact and I have already rated it with the highest score.

I'd like to invite you to read my essay and leave some comments. There I discuss about Wheeler's dream and propose a potential way to get out of the present crisis.

I'll be looking forward to hearing any comments you may have.

Regards

Israel

Dear Prof. McHarris,

Thank you for the very interesting essay that is also close to my ideas.

In afterword you claim: "Nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory shows us that disparate parts of nature are intimately linked together much more tightly than we could previously have imagined. Wherever there is feedback there is crossover. We could well be fooling ourselves with our "straightforward" linear, reductionist models. Could it be significant that chaos theory has had successes in almost every scientific field other than quantum mechanics..."

I would add something to this afterword:

The universe is a dissipative coupled system that exhibits self-organized criticality. The structured criticality is a property of complex systems where small events may trigger larger events. This is a kind of chaos where the general behavior of the system can be modeled on one scale while smaller- and larger-scale behaviors remain unpredictable. The simple example of that phenomenon is a pile of sand. When QM and GR are computable (during Lyapunov time only) and deterministic, the universe evolution (naturally evolving self-organized critical system) is non-computable and non-deterministic.

Best regards,

Dear All

Let me go one more round with Richard Feynman.

In the Character of Physical Law, he talked about the two-slit experiment like this "I will summarize, then, by saying that electrons arrive in lumps, like particles, but the probability of arrival of these lumps is determined as the intensity of waves would be. It is this sense that the electron behaves sometimes like a particle and sometimes like a wave. It behaves in two different ways at the same time.

Further on, he advises the readers "Do not keep saying to yourself, if you can possibly avoid it. 'But how can it be like that?' because you will get 'down the drain', into a blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like that."

Did he says anything about Wheeler's "It from Bit" other than what he said above?

Than Tin

I've lost a lot of comments and replies on my thread and many other threads I have commented on over the last few days. This has been a lot of work and I feel like it has been a waste of time and energy. Seems to have happened to others too - if not all.

I WILL ATTEMPT to revisit all threads to check and re-post something. Your comment on my thread was one affected by this.

I can't remember the full extent of what I said, but I have notes so know that I rated you very highly.

Hopefully the posts will be able to be retrieved by FQXi as I left a thorough reply to your comments on my thread.

Best wishes,

Antony

Dear Sir,

We just happened to read a book written in the 9th Century by Jayant Bhatt titled "Nyaya Manjari", where in the Volume II, 8th Chapter page 294, he has discussed observer created reality to scientifically refute it. The book is in Sanskrit, but its translations in other languages are also available.

He argues: some people say that the objects exist only when we observe them. This implies the existence or non-existence of an object rests on whether we observe it or not. But nonexistence are of various types. There is prior nonexistence of an object before it is transformed from being to becoming (cause and effect). Thereafter, it exists independent of observation or otherwise. This gives rise to number sequence. There is temporary non-existence, which is related to its transformation in space or time independent of the observer. This gives rise to negative numbers. There is destruction or death, which is the opposite of prior nonexistence. Then there is non-commuting nonexistence like position and momentum: a fixed position implies nonexistence of momentum with mobile coordinates and vice versa.Lastly, there is the absolute nonexistence, which means, it is impossible as per physical laws like the horns of a rabbit.

Regards,

basudeba