Ask HN: Can we have more data about the world than exists in the real world?

2 points·etewiah··4 comments

Yes. Trivial example; you and i observe a pebble, and discuss its color, size, etc. All of our discussion and opinion is "data about the pebble" (as long as we choose to define it that way) but the pebble is still itself, uncaring and unaware of our data.

We create the "data" part ourselves, internally, interpretatively, endlessly. It is as infinite as our imagination, and easier to reach than reality.

Initially it does sound impossible but yes, as I thought about it my opinion changed. But what really freaks me out is the implication of this. At some point humans could add more knowledge about the planet to the planet that ever existed on the planet. Can this be extrapolated beyond our planet? What would that mean?

It means we're good at making shit up then thinking its important.

It brings me joy, personally: ignorance is infinite, so I can learn new shit for the whole of my expected existence. What more could a curious life form ask?

But that assumes that the pebble exists in a vacuum, all of the other data about the creation of the pebble is inextricably linked to the world around it. So whilst we have more data than the pebble knows, we dont have more data than the whole system. This extrapolates out to we may know more about the planet but it will pale in comparison to the data in the galaxy or universe.

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