brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (12/03/84)
First of all, when one says, "QM if you believe it" they are referring to some particular aspects, like the Cohpenhagen interpretation. That's the interpretation that says the sub-observable phenomenon (like the precise position/momentum of a particle) are meaningless and don't exist. There are many who don't accept this. Some proport the "Many Worlds" interpretation. That says that all events in a probability distribution happen, and that the essence of being an aware creature is to take only one of the paths. This gets rid of the nasty Copenhagen idea about the "collapse of the wave functions", which Occam's razor would have us reject, but replaces it with something as distrubing. As to what the implications of free will in the many worlds interpretation are, that's hard to say. Of course I don't support the silly notion that free will and determinism are contradictory, so it isn't as much of an issue with me. -- Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473
greenber@acf4.UUCP (12/07/84)
<> Okay...I give up...for years I'be been hearing about Occum's Razor.... what is it, where did you hear about it, and how many shaves does it give? Ross M. Greenberg @ NYU ----> allegra!cmcl2!acf4!greenber <----
gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>) (12/08/84)
> Okay...I give up...for years I'be been hearing about Occum's Razor.... > what is it, where did you hear about it, and how many shaves does it give? "Occam's razor", for shaving "Plato's beard", is attributed to William of Occam: "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity". It is an epistemological principle and should be found in most basic philosophy texts. (Although who knows? Philosophers are fond of muddying the waters.)
greenber@acf4.UUCP (12/08/84)
<> Ah...I get it: keep it simple! Like all you guys at tgr --- you keep the network uncluttered by NEVER putting your UUCP address on your messages!! :-) Thanks... Ross M. Greenberg @ NYU ----> allegra!cmcl2!acf4!greenber <----
gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>) (12/09/84)
> Ah...I get it: keep it simple! Like all you guys at tgr --- you keep > the network uncluttered by NEVER putting your UUCP address on your > messages!! :-) We are proud members of the Internet and do not like paying phone bills. whoever@brl-anything.arpa
jin@hplabs.UUCP (Tai Jin) (12/11/84)
> <> > > Okay...I give up...for years I'be been hearing about Occum's Razor.... > what is it, where did you hear about it, and how many shaves does it give? > > > Ross M. Greenberg @ NYU ----> allegra!cmcl2!acf4!greenber <---- the simpler of two shaves is the better one...