APPENDIX Z59: 2006: Quantum Computation Theorist Seth Lloyd
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APPENDIX Z59:
2006: Quantum Computation
Theorist Seth Lloyd
***
The universe is a quantum computer
“The universe computes its own behavior.
* As soon as the
universe began, it began computing. At rst the
patterns
patterns
it produced were simple,
comprising elementary particles
comprising elementary particles
and establishing the fundamental laws of physics. In
time,
time,
as it processed more and
more information, the universe
more information, the universe
spun out ever more intricate and complex patterns,
including galaxies, stars, and planets. Life,
language,
language,
human beings, society,
culture—all owe their existence
culture—all owe their existence
to the intrinsic ability of matter and energy to
process
process
information.” (p. 3)
Why is the cosmos so complex?
“The computational capability of the universe explains
one of the great
mysteries of nature: how complex
mysteries of nature: how complex
systems such as living
creatures can arise from
creatures can arise from
fundamentally simple physical laws…. The digital
revolution under way today is merely the latest in
a long line of
information-processing revolutions
information-processing revolutions
stretching back through the development of language,
the evolution of sex,
and the creation of life, to the
and the creation of life, to the
beginning of the universe
itself. Each revolution has
itself. Each revolution has
laid the groundwork for the
next, and all information-
next, and all information-
processing revolutions
since the Big Bang stem from the
since the Big Bang stem from the
intrinsic information-processing ability of the universe.
The computational universe necessarily generates
complexity. Life, sex, the brain, and human
civilization
civilization
did not come about by
mere accident.” (pp. 3, 5)
mere accident.” (pp. 3, 5)
from the author –
Lloyd and his key scientic compatriots are now
holed-up at MIT’s new
Center for Extreme Quantum
Center for Extreme Quantum
Information Theory (established in 2007) of which
Lloyd
Lloyd
is the Director [ google MIT xQIT ]. Lloyds
hypothesis
hypothesis
converges with mine. The universe does ‘compute
itself,’
itself,’
and complexity ‘is no accident.’
Now, to a procient
cutting-edge secular MIT scientist
cutting-edge secular MIT scientist
observing a slice of the universe at-work, the
universe
universe
might appear as a quantum computer. What the scientist
is observing, however (according to our hypothesis)
is the
is the
quantum aspect of Innite Divine Extraordinariation
at-
at-
work.
From my perspective, the MIT group is pretty adroitly
dealing with a very key conceptual slice of the
(multi-
(multi-
billion-year) unfolding of the cosmic drama. Thus
this
this
‘Quantum Information’ group would have a
potentially
potentially
signicant interest and “stake” in Summa. And,
Summa, in
Summa, in
turn, has an extremely signicant “stake” in this
group.
group.
Of course, on some level we ‘talk past each
other.’ They
other.’ They
speak mechanisms; we speak metaphysics. But, on
another crucial level – i.e. the entire Universe as
~self-
~self-
generating and ~complexifying – we crucially
intersect.
intersect.
The MIT center potentially buttresses a very major
swath
swath
of Summa – from the pinnacle of contemporary
cutting-
cutting-
edge academic hard sciences.
***
* Lloyd’s ~mechanistic terminology posits “a computer which
computes”; I might rather say “an Innite Divine
which ‘creates’
which ‘creates’
or ‘iterates.’” Note that Seth Lloyd is currently
(October, 2012) a
(October, 2012) a
Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and has self-described
himself as a ‘quantum mechanic.’ Notwithstanding
the probability that
the probability that
Lloyd is more multi-dimensional than he professes, his background
context is relevant here.
Note as well that Lloyd’s
group is a small cadre of iconoclastic
group is a small cadre of iconoclastic
top-ight scientists/engineers/mathematicians
representing mainly
representing mainly
themselves (and not the scientic community
at-large), albeit with the
at-large), albeit with the
imprimatur of MIT for their esoteric and mind-stretching research.
*** Seth Lloyd, Programming the Universe. New York: Vintage Books, 2006. pp. 3 and 5
