(April 7, 2016 at 12:27 pm)Time Traveler Wrote: One other consideration. If the Boltzmann Brain hypothesis is based on the concept of matter randomly coming together to form various things (like pizzas, or teapots, or brains) given an infinite amount of time, one must also consider that the matter in our universe is probably NOT infinite. Protons, for example, are thought to have a half-life of about 10^31 years or so. A very, very long time, to be sure, but certainly nowhere near the infinite time scales imagined when considering the chances of a Boltzmann Brain forming. Furthermore, given the accelerating expansion of the universe at present, if this trend continues into the future, it will be less likely that matter will be able to clump together to form anything, including galaxies, solar systems, planets... and especially random brains. The more I think about this hypothesis, the less probable it seems to become.

(April 7, 2016 at 5:21 pm)Time Traveler Wrote:

(April 7, 2016 at 2:51 pm)JuliaL Wrote: Sure you can consider the life span of protons and conclude a finite time/space.  

That's not at all what I conclude. The fact that protons may be finite within the universe is not meant to imply that space and time itself are necessarily limited. In other words, while normal matter may have a lifespan, the universe may itself be eternal. My point is that IF Boltzmann Brains rely on material elements to exist (similar but perhaps not identical to our brains), THEN they may have a limited window of finite time in which to form IF protons do indeed decay OR the expansion of the universe is such that it eventually forces matter apart. I think you may have read into my original statement more than I meant to imply.

Hmm...I always interpreted the Boltzmann brain as sort of a metaphor for how "our" brains actually developed.  I.e. a statistical, but very interesting and somewhat rare instance of an entropy configuration. - I mean that's how I mainly view the human brain as. However if there is someone that is more keen on this Boltzmann philosophy than me, please correct me if explaining human brains like this wasn't part of his original intentions.

Anywho, that's the interpretation I've had when I made this thread topic.

(April 9, 2016 at 12:11 am)maestroanth Wrote: Hmm...I always interpreted the Boltzmann brain as sort of a metaphor for how "our" brains actually developed.  I.e. a statistical, but very interesting and somewhat rare instance of an entropy configuration. - I mean that's how I mainly view the human brain as. However if there is someone that is more keen on this Boltzmann philosophy than me, please correct me if explaining human brains like this wasn't part of his original intentions.

Anywho, that's the interpretation I've had when I made this thread topic.

The human brain is the product of about 3.5 billion years of evolution on this planet, starting with simple single-celled life and evolving into multi-cellular animals with central nervous systems run by, at first primitive, and then very complex brains. A Boltzmann brain (as I understand it) is an instantaneous coming together of matter due to random fluctuations which constructs itself into a complex brain in outer space, completely bypassing evolutionary processes.

(April 9, 2016 at 8:48 am)Time Traveler Wrote:

(April 9, 2016 at 12:11 am)maestroanth Wrote: Hmm...I always interpreted the Boltzmann brain as sort of a metaphor for how "our" brains actually developed.  I.e. a statistical, but very interesting and somewhat rare instance of an entropy configuration. - I mean that's how I mainly view the human brain as. However if there is someone that is more keen on this Boltzmann philosophy than me, please correct me if explaining human brains like this wasn't part of his original intentions.

Anywho, that's the interpretation I've had when I made this thread topic.

The human brain is the product of about 3.5 billion years of evolution on this planet, starting with simple single-celled life and evolving into multi-cellular animals with central nervous systems run by, at first primitive, and then very complex brains. A Boltzmann brain (as I understand it) is an instantaneous coming together of matter due to random fluctuations which constructs itself into a complex brain in outer space, completely bypassing evolutionary processes.

Ah....okay. That's wild.

How should have I titled this thread then? Not as a Boltzmann brain, but as err.....even more generalized I guess to include 'all brains' including man's/evolution's with the statistics. Of course when you factor the low entropy and evolution it makes man's brain and consciousness(s), or more apt "your consciousnesses" or one's own consciousness, much more likely than a true boltzmann brain.

So I wikied WTF he was talking about. Am I right in my understanding:

He's claiming we are all "brains/minds" formed from stuff that came together in the universe by hapinstance and everything we perceive (aka: all our senses) are just our space brain fabrications? Is that the jist or am I totally nuts with that?

(April 10, 2016 at 3:22 am)Goosebump Wrote: So I wikied WTF he was talking about. Am I right in my understanding:

He's claiming we are all "brains/minds" formed from stuff that came together in the universe by hapinstance and everything we perceive (aka: all our senses) are just our space brain fabrications? Is that the jist or am I totally nuts with that?

Ya, that's what I'm getting at haha. Let's just retitle this thread as that ;P

Boltzmann Brain Configuration.
It has such a nice intellectual ring to it.