Andreas Schamanek wrote:
> Hi SIMSOC,
>
> Jorge, I'd love to underline what you've written.
> Let me add just one more perspective:
>
> On Tue, 1 Apr 2003, Jorge Sima~o wrote:
>
> > Clearly, only for a very simple real world phenomena can the bit
> > flipping be considered an appropriate model, in the sense of
> > producing at least some qualitative similarities with the real
> > phenomena.
>
> True. Moreover, in theory, every computer model is in fact only bit-
> flipping. No matter how big your numbers are they are represented by
> bits. Any increase or decrease is a bit-flipping, and can be broken
> down to single-bit-flipping like in a sugarscape world.
>
> So, if you look at it the other way 'round: If you do not feel
> comfortable with values represented by single bits just make your
> sugarscape bigger and look at it from a macroscopic point of view
> where you can not distinguish single bits. Or, if you like it
> more sophisticated: Find an interpretation that translates a certain
> number of bits to whatever quality you like.
>
> HTH,
>
> --
> -- Andreas
About Sugarscape bit-fliping:
I meant that modeling social transmission and influence as bit fliping
of unit trais is over-simplistic (not to say mesleading).
The issue of whether or not human social system are computable is a
completly different issue --- of the appropriate way to model culture,
that is. (And I don't think there is a connection).
About the computablity, the short answer is: NO. Human social systems
can not be fully described by algorithmictic if one means complete
predictive accuracy. But its is not because of Penrose argument. Its
because the system is open, amough other things. (see:
http://www.cs.cas.cz/~wieder/)
Cheers,
Jorge.
--
:o) Jorge Paulo Ferreira Simao [log in to unmask] :o)
PhD Student at Computer Science Department, FCT / New University of
Lisbon;
Addresses: (office) Departamento de Informática, FCT/UNL, Quinta da
Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Phones: (office) +351 21 294 8536;
(home) +351 21 0812096; (celular) +351 966850710; Faxes: (office) +351
21 294 8541; (home) +351 21 212 4306; HomePage:
centria.di.fct.unl.pt/~jsimao
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