dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaBook Review: 'A New Kind of Science'
| Authors | Scott Aaronson |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0206089 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0206089 |
Abstract
This is a critical review of the book 'A New Kind of Science' by Stephen Wolfram. We do not attempt a chapter-by-chapter evaluation, but instead focus on two areas: computational complexity and fundamental physics. In complexity, we address some of the questions Wolfram raises using standard techniques in theoretical computer science. In physics, we examine Wolfram's proposal for a deterministic model underlying quantum mechanics, with 'long-range threads' to connect entangled particles. We show that this proposal cannot be made compatible with both special relativity and Bell inequality violation.
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"abstract": "This is a critical review of the book \u0027A New Kind of Science\u0027 by Stephen\nWolfram. We do not attempt a chapter-by-chapter evaluation, but instead focus\non two areas: computational complexity and fundamental physics. In complexity,\nwe address some of the questions Wolfram raises using standard techniques in\ntheoretical computer science. In physics, we examine Wolfram\u0027s proposal for a\ndeterministic model underlying quantum mechanics, with \u0027long-range threads\u0027 to\nconnect entangled particles. We show that this proposal cannot be made\ncompatible with both special relativity and Bell inequality violation.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0206089",
"authors": [
"Scott Aaronson"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"title": "Book Review: \u0027A New Kind of Science\u0027",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0206089"
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