Jim was responding to a thread about the three-body problem, in which it has been proved that, no matter how much we may know about the state of a closed-system, we can never connect its present state to its predetermined future state by computation.It is thus reasonable to pit simulation as an alternative to computation and ask whether the brain, rather than computing, is simulating a model of the world in order to make predictions and guide behavior. If so, this suggests a hardware supporting dynamics more akin to a quantum many-body field theory.
What we do instead, is to create a computer simulation that steps its way along a series of iterations, to simulate the closed system. But, with each iteration, there is an increase in error.
We might argue that the universe has no problem "solving" the three-body problem, because it is a chain of cause-and-effect, so that there can be only one outcome at each step. In effect, then, the universe is simulating the three bodies (or more).
Okay, this brings us to the question, can a simulation simulate itself? Does the universe do so?
Metaphysically, can the eye see itself? (Not a reflection, but itself.) "Canst thou know thyself?"
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