ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Gömöri Márton <gomorim AT gmail.com>]

Logic and Philosophy of Science Seminar
Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy
Eötvös Loránd University Budapest
Múzeum krt. 4/i Room 224
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P R O G R A M

The seminar is held in hybrid format, in person (Múzeum krt. 4/i Room 224)
and online. Zoom Meeting link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/889933315?pwd=Q3U3V3VQdXpXckhJYWRrcWRiMUhhQT09

18 October (Friday) 4:15 - 6:15 PM  Room 224 + ONLINE

Zoltán Sóstai
Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy, Eötvös University Budapest

Empirical Constraints and the Computational Unpredictability of Physical
Systems: A Critical Examination of the Physical Church-Turing Thesis and
the Halting Problem

Abstract:

The intersection of computational theory and the philosophy of science is
explored, where I focus on the implications of the physical Church-Turing
thesis (PCTT) and the halting problem which affects predictability of
physical systems. The core argument examined posits that if the PCTT holds,
there are physical processes whose outcomes cannot be predicted due to the
uncomputability of the halting problem.The inability to predict certain
computational processes, as claimed in the core argument, would make it
impossible to consistently forecast or evaluate physical events,
undermining the principles of empirical knowledge and the validity of
scientific models.

I critically analyze this core argument, which is based on three key
suppositions: physicalism, the PCTT, and the uncomputability of the halting
problem. It is shown through a counter-argument that these suppositions
cannot hold simultaneously. We can demonstrate that when taking into
account physical constraints and the meaningfulness of computations, the
unpredictability posited by the core argument can be shown to be flawed and
the claim of uncomputable physical decisions does not hold under closer
empirical scrutiny. Nevertheless, it is also possible to show that a
bounded, empirically constrained version of the core argument still holds,
preserving some of the unpredictability under specific physical
limitations. This offers a refined understanding of the limits of
computability and prediction in physical systems.

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Seminar website (currently under construction): http://lps.elte.hu/lps

The seminar is open to everyone, including students, visitors, and
faculty members
from all departments and institutes! Format: 60 minute lecture, coffee
break, 60 minute discussion.

The organizers: Márton Gömöri and Zalán Molnár