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We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

writings.stephenwolfram.com

21–30 of 376 posts

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#21
post #13

Let us concede that in the last 20 years, the number of mentions of "I" in his writing has decreased, and there are more mentions of "We". As much as a cellular automata, and computation in general, fan as I am, and after having read a fair amount of his work... I am still not convinced that Wolfram is not just a rich crack pot.

Let him do his thing, he supports many employees for a living, and does meaningful work occassionally. There are many people that are far more problematic for the society than Mr. Wolfram. He hasn't done any harm to anyone. Let him chill in peace.

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#22
post #15
post #9

The more I hear about Stephen Wolfram's schemes to name things after Stephen Wolfram, the more admirative I grow of Nicolas Bourbaki and wished he were publishing amazing math software these days.

You've sent me down an interesting reading path, about a group of mathematicians working under the pseudonym "Nicolas Bourbaki" and lo and behold they do even have a web site these days: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki https://www.bourbaki.fr/ Now how does that relate to Stephen Wolfram?

A group of mathematicians operating under a pseudonym is basically the exact opposite of a single mathematician naming everything after himself.

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds amazing! I wish they'd study something like energy storage or cheap imaging mmWave radar, or portable chemical analyzers, or any of those supposedly world changing things that seem to totally vanish without a trace again whenever anyone makes a breakthrough. Hopefully it's not just this?new physics thing.

I think he was pretty clear that the Wolfram Institute, headed by Stephen Wolfram, has the single purpose of exploring the Wolfram Multicomputation model as a new foundation for all of science and mathematics. To do so, it is going to apply Wolfram's methods for productivity that have made Wolfram Research a successful company, and Wolfram Physics Project a successful delivery. Also of note, any major discoveries wil…

I can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic when you say "Wolfram's clear and simple exposition style"

Can you link me an example?

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds amazing! I wish they'd study something like energy storage or cheap imaging mmWave radar, or portable chemical analyzers, or any of those supposedly world changing things that seem to totally vanish without a trace again whenever anyone makes a breakthrough. Hopefully it's not just this?new physics thing.

I think he was pretty clear that the Wolfram Institute, headed by Stephen Wolfram, has the single purpose of exploring the Wolfram Multicomputation model as a new foundation for all of science and mathematics. To do so, it is going to apply Wolfram's methods for productivity that have made Wolfram Research a successful company, and Wolfram Physics Project a successful delivery. Also of note, any major discoveries wil…

You can't deny it he has been very productive over the years. If he can pass on what has made him so productive, on to the next research generation, that's a definite plus for his institute.

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#27
post #7

I'm not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on the physics project, but I find it interesting how polarized HN is about it. For some people it's a whole new world that will lead to new findings, for others it seems like they compare it to them having invented a new language and acting busy "translating" everything that was already discovered to this new language and being surprised they can. Funny how even mathem…

I think it's hard to take anyone seriously when claiming that they have a new model that will revolutionize the foundations of particle physics, molecular biology, metamathematics, economics, evolutionary biology, complexity theory, and others. Of course it's possible, but the magnitude of the claims about vastly disparate fields feels more like someone who only has a bird's-eye view and sees shallow similarities.

Importantly though, neither I nor anyone commenting on Wolfram's plans and thoughts are engaging in mathematics or physics. If anything, the arguments around are mostly to do with the philosophy or sociology of science - looking at how discoveries have usually worked throughout history and comparing that to Wolframs work. To go into the math, you must have some belief that it is worthwhile to spend your time to do quite difficult work, and most arguments around here are about why his work currently doesn't seem to pass that mark. EDIT: to put a number on how difficult engaging with the actual maths and physics would be, according to the article, the Wolfram Research Project has currently published 700 pages worth of discoveries.

To be honest about my own feelings, when I see him claiming his new model will explain what mathematics is - it makes me think he's only a few years away from claiming it explains the meaning of life and why there is something instead of nothing. Perhaps even squaring the circle and computing the number of angels that fit on the head of a pin...

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#28
I’ve had more downvotes sharing my opinions about cellular automata on HN than on any other topic, so I won’t make any here. Rather, I’d like to point out that I personally have not seen a single theory, not a single piece of a theory, known to be productive in explaining experimental data, recast with underlying cellular automata theory. If I am simply showing my ignorance, please enlighten me. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#29
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think he was pretty clear that the Wolfram Institute, headed by Stephen Wolfram, has the single purpose of exploring the Wolfram Multicomputation model as a new foundation for all of science and mathematics. To do so, it is going to apply Wolfram's methods for productivity that have made Wolfram Research a successful company, and Wolfram Physics Project a successful delivery. Also of note, any major discoveries wil…

I can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic when you say "Wolfram's clear and simple exposition style" Can you link me an example?

very much sarcasm

Re: We’ve got a science opportunity overload: Launching the Wolfram Institute

#30
post #7

I'm not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on the physics project, but I find it interesting how polarized HN is about it. For some people it's a whole new world that will lead to new findings, for others it seems like they compare it to them having invented a new language and acting busy "translating" everything that was already discovered to this new language and being surprised they can. Funny how even mathem…

You will find, I think, the gradient you allude to, to be inversely proportional to the level of physics that the reviewer has attained. Now this could have “political” implications: people with a lot invested in conventional physics might be hostile as a means of protecting that investment.

But I think not.

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