The Role of the Observer Part 2: How the Observer as Computational Entity intersects with Maxwell's Demon and the Demon Horde Sort

Is the universe fundamentally computational? What is the observer? What is the role of the observer? A deep dive.

Timestamps 0:00.

Intro 2:00 Analyzing 2 different delayed choice quantum eraser experiments: Kim, et al and John Wheeler (Gedanken)

13:43 We never talk about what the observer is (we need to include the physics of the observer)

14:14 Maxwell's demon and the observer (a sequence of choices)

25:08 The Free Will Theorem 27:00 Multiple choices that are still consistent with the past history of the universe.

41:30 Observation does require a "concept" of consciousness.

49:25 Consciousness ends at the smallest composite systems capable of computation, those are the smallest units for which consciousness would apply. A sequence of choices based on a set of rules. Must be causally disconnected from the universe as a whole in order to be an observer.

1:00:52 If you take computation as fundamental, you can get an ought from an is, which Sam Harris says is impossible to do.

1:08:15 Computation is always a physical system. If you take computation as fundamental, information is downstream or an artifact of that. 1:09:10 If you think in terms of computation, you immediately get languages.

1:20:55 A review of computation

1:21:34 Exposition of music as a computational system

1:31:08 Introducing Dave Ackley of the Demon Horde Sort

The challenge. The Role of the Observer, Part 1: https://youtu.be/A5xtyRkp6HE Recommended research: More Glen and others on the Quantum Measurement Problem: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUa1nUq32fXuGvtTJFhLhN3d Glen on The Physics of Life: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUZhxqfaqYU5yjy0-Tr8RlB4

For all the links discussed by Glen, see the YouTube version of this talk:

https://youtu.be/xJtw5umXouc