Monday, June 01, 2009

What about LaPlace's Demon??

Just in case you're curious...

Random readings in philosophy and physics brought LaPlace's Demon to my attention. Simply put
"In the history of science, Laplace's demon is a hypothetical "demon" envisioned in 1814 by Pierre-Simon Laplace such that if it knew the precise location and momentum of every atom in the universe then it could use Newton's laws to reveal the entire course of cosmic events, past and future."
(from "LaPlace's Demon" on Wikipedia)

The existence of both the ability and such a being is both terrifying and oddly appealing. I'm not so sure that I'd want that much knowledge...or the responsibilty and dread that would accompany it.