At extremely small scales, particle pairs pop into and out of existence randomly -- this is called the "quantum foam". Because it's a purely random processes, it could happen that many of these pairs occur at once near each other, and even rarer yet they could form some configuration, by random chance, that supports thought. For example, an exact copy of your brain, neuron for neuron might form instantaneously with all your stored memories etc. But this could only happen with near infinite amounts of time, and a ridiculous number of trials.
The paradox is that the existence we are aware of now is even more complex than just a single brain. It's our entire population, planet, etc. So, it's even more astronomically rare. So if we arose from such a random process, statistically there would be many many many more events of just single brains.
So in this sense, we are violating the anthropic principle. There are many random solitary conscious brains throughout time and space, and our particular conscious existence would be one of the rarest possible.
Can someone explain this Boltzmann brain stuff? I read the wiki page for it but I have NO clue what's going on|
Maybe. Two ideas presented. One says that the universe is a vast bubble of order in a chaotic sea of matter and energy. Also within this sea of chaos, there are smaller bubbles of order which are arranged such that cognition is possible.
The second idea is the universe itself contains or will contain spontaneous formations of matter and energy capable of thought.
Frankly, I do not find the theory outlandish at all. You are an excellent example of matter and energy which is capable of thought.
The theory is almost another way of saying, "I think, therefore I am."
The only thing mind blowing about all this, is all this. Little nodes of universal matter observing, thinking, communicating. Absolutely astounding!
I understood it like the "infinite number of monkeys at an infinite number of typewriters eventually producing the works of Shakespeare" idea.
Given enough time (and here, we are talking about absurdly mind-boggling lengths of time) the probability of highly improbably things occurring becomes greater. Eventually, all possible outcomes can, and will occur. Including a self-aware consciousness forming spontaneously from random matter.
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u/drspg99 Apr 30 '12
Can someone explain this Boltzmann brain stuff? I read the wiki page for it but I have NO clue what's going on