What would happen to the world if an unknown force appeared in the grip of a person, capable of predicting future events of any living organism or physical component for thousands of years to come? Probably, the World War would begin for the right to possess this power, and the country, having acquired new opportunities, would become the head of the whole planet. It is good that nothing of the kind exists in the real world, but in theoretical dogmas two centuries ago there were records of this unknown force. She bore the name Demon Laplace.
Who is Laplace?
Marquis de Laplace Pierre Simon is an outstanding mathematician, thinker, physicist, astronomer and mechanic at the beginning of the 19th century. He gained fame in scientific circles thanks to his work with differential equations; he is considered one of the founders of probability theory. For a long time he worked in the field of astronomy. He was the first to prove the stability of the elements of the solar system and was able to argue the process of formation of celestial bodies. The research conducted by Laplace Pierre Simon improved and provoked the rapid development of almost the entire scientific environment.
In addition to the outstanding formulas, theorems and axioms of a famous thinker, the world has acquired an interesting experiment called the Demon of Laplace. The issue of the practical usefulness of this study has been dealt with by many generations of scientists, but no one has come to a definite solution.
Test
1814 year. Laplace proposes to conduct a kind of thought experiment. Its essence was that it was assumed the existence of a certain Mind, which is capable of perceiving any particle of the Universe at any time period, analyzing its development and assuming further development. The characters of thought experiments are fictitious sentient beings. Laplace created them to clearly demonstrate the level of human ignorance in a statistical description of current processes.
The main problem of this experiment is not the actual prediction of the event, but the theoretical possibility of doing this. This will be possible under the conditions given in the form of a mechanical description taking into account dualism and dynamics.
Simply put, for the Laplace Demon to work, he needs to provide information about something electronically. By exploring this “something”, a fictional intelligent being can predict its further development until the end of time. This forecast will be more objective than the conclusions of scientists, because a “rational being” will not have limitations in knowledge.
First wording
For the first time such an experiment was described as follows:
The universe is now a product of its past and a starting point for the future. If the Reason has information about the factors that lead the world into dynamics, and also has information about all the components of the Universe, then it will be able to analyze them. After analyzing the empirical information, the Reason will provide information about all the components of the Universe, and will also be able to indicate the future of each individual part for many years to come .
The scientist himself believed that one day humanity will begin to actively explore the world and better understand it. Then there may be a need for a mechanism that has exceptional, incredibly powerful computing capabilities and instantly analyzes information.
Laplace understood that it would be difficult to create a machine with such a Mind, but still believed. But the later teachings of quantum mechanics completely refute the existence of such a mechanism.
Infinity Computing
No matter how many scientists try to reach an unambiguous solution, the Laplace Demon is a double-edged sword. Assuming that such a technique exists, it is a material thing with unique computational abilities. The machine will be able to calculate what will happen in the world in 2 minutes. After issuing the first result, the technique according to the given algorithm can begin to calculate the events of the next minutes.
However, this is impractical, because the answer is contained in the first calculation: the device does not exclude itself, but predicts its actions. Thus, the machine predicts events that will occur in the next 4 minutes. According to this information, the technique will have to be taken for calculation every four minutes and so on ad infinitum.
Paradox
And if such an apparatus existed, it would have to find an answer within 1 working minute containing all the information about the world: from the beginning of time to its logical conclusion. But if we assume that time is cyclical (that is, it has no end), then the device will begin to output an endless stream of data. This is the problem: the result cannot be displayed or saved. RAM can have tremendous volume and power, but not infinity, because it is material.
The main paradox is that the device must take into account itself in the calculations. That is, he must predict his subsequent actions to be taken. The result will be final, and if we assume that such a machine exists, then it will predict the events that will occur in a minute. To achieve the prediction for several centuries ahead, the machine must exist outside the material world, and this is impossible.
To not be lost
Although the existence of such a device is subject to reasonable doubts, a thought experiment is an interesting and somewhat mystical conclusion, which Japanese mangaki and animators enjoy using.
So, in the manga of “Virgin Rosen” there is a character named Laplace, who directs the game of one of the heroes.
In 2015, the anime “Rampo Tales: The Laplace Game” was presented to the public, where one of the characters can be fully associated with the machine, which predicts the future of the Universe, and also shows its cyclical nature.
This idea was also used to create the manga "Darwin and His Games." One of the characters has an ability called Laplace’s action. He can analyze and predict the behavior of everything that surrounds him.
If such a Reason were created in reality, then this would lead to the transition of mankind to a new level of evolution. But it could become a "bone of contention" between countries. Therefore, it is much better when such ideas exist as beautiful theoretical assumptions.