English

Hempel's dilemma and the physics of computation

History and Philosophy of Physics 2007-05-23 v1 Quantum Physics

Abstract

Carl Gustav Hempel (1905-1997) formulated the dilemma that carries his name in an attempt to determine the boundaries of physics. Where does physics go over into metaphysics? The purpose of this contribution is to indicate how a recently developed field of research, the physics of computation, might offer a new answer to that old question: The boundary between physics and metaphysics is the boundary between what can and what cannot be computed in the age of the universe.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.physics/0702072,
  title  = {Hempel's dilemma and the physics of computation},
  author = {C. W. J. Beenakker},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0702072},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

5 pages