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Re: [ontolog-forum] randomness and information

To: "[ontolog-forum]" <ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: "Rob Freeman" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:36:44 +0800
Message-id: <7616afbc0802130136i39d91be6l127c4b74785dcc7c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Feb 13, 2008 2:58 PM, Pat Hayes <phayes@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Let's try another approach. Given a sequence random by this
> > definition. How many distinct patterns can you find in it?
>
> The question is meaningless. What counts as a 'pattern', and what makes one
> distinct from another?
>
> More seriously, its based on a misunderstanding. Any particular sequence can
> be viewed as a determinate sequence, and once generated it can be reproduced
> exactly. The randomness inheres in the process which generated it in the
> first place. It's random when the only way to generate it again is to store
> it and read it back out: no shorter algorithm is possible (Kolmogoroff
> again).    (01)

Surely if there are no constraints on them, that is if given one bit
you still know nothing about the others, n bits can code 2^n patterns.    (02)

-Rob    (03)

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