The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about everything. Life, the Universe, everything. If you’ve read these amazing books, you know the answer is 42, but what’s the question? To find out what the question was, they built a giant computer we call Earth. And though it seems silly, perhaps Douglas Adams was correct, and that not just earth, but the WHOLE UNIVERSE is an incredibility complex computational system, processing the answer to some unknown question. The universe IS made up of information, similar to a computer, and physics (you know, the basis of the universe) certainly is based on computational principles. But is it running some grand program? Will the answer be 42? Make sure you have your towel, and watch the episode!
Reading List:
— An Introduction to Digital Philosophy, Edward Fredkin, International Journal of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 42, No. 2, February 2003 ( C ° 2003) – Edward Fredkin1
— The Computable Universe, edited by Hector Zenil
— Information, Physics, Quantum: The Search for Links, by John Archibald Wheeler
— Against Digital Ontology – Luciano Floridi
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
“a computer of such infinite and subtle complexity that organic life itself will form part of its operational matrix.”
http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio4.htm
Simulation Argument:
http://www.simulation-argument.com/
Numberphile Videos:
Is Zero Even? – Numberphile
Problems with Zero – Numberphile
Zero Factorial – Numberphile
Tweet of the week:
The limits of physics http://t.co/6by0yGyrMv @mikerugnetta this might interest you considering your last @pbsideachannel episode
— Cadell (@cadellnlast) June 8, 2013
Music:
“Europe” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“Carry on Carillon” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“Bouncy Castle” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
“:P” by Roglok (http://www.roglok.net)
Level 5: Room for the Homeless
http://www.jamendo.com/en/list/a101325/level-5
Chiptune – Kenzalol
Clockwork – Titan (geometry remix)
https://soundcloud.com/wompworthy/clockwork-titan-geometry-remix
Let us know what sorts of crazy ideas you have, about this episode and otherwise:
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Hosted by Mike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta)
Made by Kornhaber Brown (http://www.kornhaberbrown.com)
Want some more Idea Channel?
Here’s Last Week’s episode: “Is Math A Feature of The Universe or a Feature of Human Creation? http://youtu.be/TbNymweHW4E
Want another one? Here ya go: “Is Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethical?” http://youtu.be/95KhuSbYJGE
Here’s Some More: “Is Sad Music Actually Sad?” http://youtu.be/bWWYE4eLEfk
