<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:"Fira Code""><span class="gmail-il">Logic</span> and
<span class="gmail-il">Philosophy</span> of <span class="gmail-il">Science</span> <span class="gmail-il">Seminar</span></span>
<div>Department of <span class="gmail-il">Logic</span>, Institute of <span class="gmail-il">Philosophy</span></div>
<div>Eötvös Loránd University Budapest</div>
<div>Múzeum krt. 4/i Room 224</div>
<div>_____________________________________________</div>
<div>P R O G R A M</div>
<div><br>
The <span class="gmail-il">seminar</span> is held in hybrid format, in person (Múzeum krt. 4/i
Room 224) and online. Zoom Meeting link: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/889933315?pwd=Q3U3V3VQdXpXckhJYWRrcWRiMUhhQT09" target="_blank">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/889933315?pwd=Q3U3V3VQdXpXckhJYWRrcWRiMUhhQT09</a></div><br></div>18 October (Friday) 4:15 - 6:15 PM Room 224 + ONLINE</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>Zoltán Sóstai<br>Department of Logic, Institute of Philosophy, Eötvös University Budapest</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Empirical Constraints and the Computational Unpredictability of Physical
Systems: A Critical Examination of the Physical Church-Turing Thesis
and the Halting Problem<br><br>Abstract: </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The intersection of computational theory
and the philosophy of science is explored, where I focus on the
implications of the physical Church-Turing thesis (PCTT) and the halting
problem which affects predictability of physical systems. The core
argument examined posits that if the PCTT holds, there are physical
processes whose outcomes cannot be predicted due to the uncomputability
of the halting problem.The inability to predict certain computational
processes, as claimed in the core argument, would make it impossible to
consistently forecast or evaluate physical events, undermining the
principles of empirical knowledge and the validity of scientific models.<br><br>I
critically analyze this core argument, which is based on three key
suppositions: physicalism, the PCTT, and the uncomputability of the
halting problem. It is shown through a counter-argument that these
suppositions cannot hold simultaneously. We can demonstrate that when
taking into account physical constraints and the meaningfulness of
computations, the unpredictability posited by the core argument can be
shown to be flawed and the claim of uncomputable physical decisions does
not hold under closer empirical scrutiny. Nevertheless, it is also
possible to show that a bounded, empirically constrained version of the
core argument still holds, preserving some of the unpredictability under
specific physical limitations. This offers a refined understanding of
the limits of computability and prediction in physical systems.<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br><div>
<div>
<div>______________________________</div>
<div>Seminar website (currently under construction):<span> </span><a href="http://lps.elte.hu/lps" target="_blank">http://lps.elte.hu/lps</a></div>
<div><br>
The <span class="gmail-il">seminar</span> is open to everyone, including students, visitors,
and faculty<span> </span>members from all departments and institutes! Format: 60
minute lecture,<span> </span>coffee break, 60 minute discussion.<span> </span></div>
<div><br>
The organizers: Márton Gömöri and Zalán Molnár<br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>