Seth Lloyd - What is Complexity in the Cosmos?

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Our universe began with a swirling, seething plasma-everything, everywhere, all the same. Today we have galaxies, stars, planets, people. How did such structure come about? How did complexity develop in the cosmos? What are the laws of complexity; what causes them and what drives them?
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Seth Lloyd is a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He refers to himself as a “quantum mechanic”.
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Closer To Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[@jackiechan8840]

Front pony tail is a strong look. Fair play fella.

[@kaiserkhan4520]

😂

[@dcart77]

😂

[@undertalefanyay5728]

Maybe the most clear explanation of quantum computing and natural complexity of the videos you have provided to date. Great interview.

[@tyamada21]

A segment from 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within'... My new understandings of what many call 'God -The Holy Spirit' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE... Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence - the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future - right down to the minutest particles of dust - each being an individual ripple or wave. The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter - I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist. For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects - including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars - none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down - Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists - including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them - our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant - our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma - and more importantly, our enlightenment. The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory - whenever we experience or express our emotions - or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing. The second law - Renge - Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho - these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence. The final and third part of the tri-combination - Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge - or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter - as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication - perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists. Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us - all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux - constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ - the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation - rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge - and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu - which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’. On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives - as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives - even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances - turn them into positive ones - or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are - regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect - the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication. For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything. NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self - this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things - such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally - rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within - including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time - to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.

[@vin9235]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ameralbadry6825]

Exactly what I wanted to hear, million thanks 🙏

[@elliotdelacruz390]

love his hair

[@simonhibbs887]

He's certainly making the most of what he's got. For me, that ship has sailed.

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

*"He's certainly making the most of what he's got. For me, that ship has sailed."* ... Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, The Rock, Agent 47, Patrick Stewart, Vin Diesel, Ed Harris, Ben Kingsley, Michael Jordan, Yul Brenner, Sean Connery, Skunk Anansie, and Sinéad O'Connor. ... _It's a good ship to be sailing on!_

[@noelwass4738]

Thank you Closer To Truth. What I would like to know is how do we measure complexity. Clearly it is distinct from entropy and other thermodynamic quantities we might be interested in. Entropy is proportional to the logarithm of the number of microstates of a system as formulated by Boltzmann and this is clearly a measure of randomness. I think it is to do with how subsystems of a larger system communicate with each other in a way that preserves the overall structure of the system and the subcomponent or subsystems. Complex systems arise from smaller complex subsystems that exchange information. There is no doubt that complexity arises from intelligence, but one can have complexity without intelligence. The example I like to think of is the human body that is in turn built from individual cells that are very complex subsystems in their own right.

[@know_stradamus]

Let it go Seth!

[@kylebowles9820]

Where the complexity comes from is self reference. If the universe is essentially running a monte carlo simulation then the randomness is just to explore the state space, self reference is how you get the complexity out of those techniques. The thing is, the universe is a Markov process, so it must essentially reference its past self. My path tracer can run a cellular automata when the temporal reprojection gets positive and negative values (when I don't clamp my cosines to [0-1] lol) it's easy to see why it became Turing complete looking at the function: it didn't happen when it was just simple reservoir reprojection (weighted sum), then I added more complex BSDF resampling and it started to happen. That involved taking differences over space and time and using a nonlinear function.

[@johnnuaxon3]

Thank You

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Every state change is a computation.

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Seth is amazing.

[@hakiza-technologyltd.8198]

Great

[@Robinson8491]

Time is the great mixer. If the universe were a cocktail, time would be the ultimate strainer

[@Resmith18SR]

Our Universe is actually a frozen daiquiri.😂😂😂

[@monierbeshara7048]

Please , can u give us idea about nature of speech , is it energy or matter .. or matter converted to energy .. ? Thanks

[@Visslle]

Ommmmmmmmm...........vibrations of words are creation.....☀

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

complexity from virtual particles of quantum probability measured into classic particles / matter?

[@claudetaillefer1332]

If the universe is typewriter-like, we get a low level of complexity (algorithmic or logical depth?). If the universe is computer-like, we get a high level of complexity (algorithmic or logical depth?). Now the universe has a high level of complexity (algorithmic or logical depth?). Ergo, the universe is computer-like. However, seen as an argument for Lloyd's claim, i.e., that the universe is a computer, this reasoning, I believe, is invalid. So what's wrong with this argument? It seems to me that in discussions of complexity, it is often too readily granted that we know what it is for 'something' to be complex. Lloyd sometimes appeals to algorithmic complexity (Kolmogorov's complexity), sometimes to logical depth complexity (Bennett's complexity). The mistake Loyd makes is an unwarranted shift from talk about algorithmic complexity to talk about logical depth complexity. This, I think, is simply a confusion; and it ought to be recognized that provided that we distinguish these two concepts of complexity, Lloyd's claim no longer holds. The point is not that the claim is false, but that Lloyd's argument for it is inconclusive at best.

[@ajwright8710]

The formation of complexity is diritive from pressure and leverage. 😮 I think.

[@paxdriver]

I love Seth Lloyd. Burrell's monkeys with autocomplete.

[@samc6231]

Who is computing? Who is fine tuning? Who is consciousness? Who is the will? Who is the universe? Who became a person in a mind in a body in a world in a dream in a brain in a matrix in a computer in a cosmos in a consciousness in an illusion in a mind in a body in a world in a dream in a brain in a matrix in a cosmos in a hallucination in a dream in a brain in a computer in a cosmos?

[@taniasara7558]

Thank you Drs for the clarification. Very interesting video! With some more time ( about few more centuries to go) Perhas the complex puzzle will b solved. Time will witness everything! Even if u're still at the 3rd or 4th stages of the truth, with all the work n efforts of scientists in multiple fields, the truth will get nearer. Is what is complexed started simple or perhaps the opposite. Perhaps the impossible is only in God's brain n God's hands. Only the possible is within our reach. If we see it so complex for now then we can only get what is complex. ( We r searching the mysterious with all the sciences n natural laws available to us but the mystery target is the super natural (code or info) which can b the answer. Patience is required 🙏

[@SandipChitale]

Seth and Steven Wolfram need to talk to each other.

[@Robinson8491]

Actually, DNA is chemically possible and has therefore always been chemically possible according to Alexius Meinong and Leibniz Predicate in Notion. The fact that not all other chemical possibilities have been manifested is a subject of the studies of Assembly Theory by Cronin and Walker.

[@mikepatnode4407]

Life has to have a reason. Untill consciousness is unraveled there is no point to life. Consciousness must come in conjunction with the first molecules and indeed I would say consciousness is the definition of life.

[@Robinson8491]

@@mikepatnode4407 'Reason' is a human construct, just like 'he is nice' or 'she is hurtful'. Are you talking about causality? What do you mean with reason?

[@mikepatnode4407]

What I meant was the will to survive. With out that incentive or other incentives such as, that hurts or, I must eat, why would any thing do anything. A paramecium can feel. It wants to live, or maybe it just doesn't want to feel discomfort so it moves, and survives. Everything is composed of waves. I believe only a specific spectrum of waves can produce consciousness. That spectrum needs a precursor of molecules to be broadcasted. By the way, I feel this is the way memories are stored and recalled in the larger animals. They use harmonious waves to sort and retrieve relavent information using different harmonies within certain relevant scales. Information is geometrical bits. Reason is created through feelings and not through bits. It is the other way around, Consciousness creates information. It would be true that certain geometrical shapes of molecules would precurse conciousness, but those molecules would not be aware or have consciousness. Thank you for your serious question! I have a lot of CIRCUMSTANTIAL evidence to add relavence to my claims. Thanks Mike

[@jackwt7340]

If the universe is an apple, then there are many apples out there. There are not only many apples, but also oranges, pears, peaches. If space is infinite, then there is no need for "other dimensions."🦋

[@ManiBalajiC]

Since we expect an end , it's finite.

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

(1:40) *SL: **_"The secret to why complexity arises comes from the fact that at bottom the universe is computing."_* ... Big fan of Seth Lloyd! I agree that the universe is constantly computing, but I don't agree that "computation" is found at the very bottom and the cause of the emergence of complexity. There must be a _reason_ for computing anything beyond what is already available for computation. There must also be some type of *integral mechanism* that _demands_ something "new" to compute after computing everything that's available. A calculator could calculate 1 + 1 = 2 for an eternity and never increase in complexity. It wouldn't be bothered whatsoever by the redundancy. It can because there is *no motivational factor* to move anywhere beyond 1 + 1, ... so why does "Existence" keep raising the bar? ... Because "Existence" is searching for something, and it's something based on logic: *justification.* That quest is what you will find embedded into the _bottom of reality._

[@simonhibbs887]

>There must be a reason for computing anything beyond what is already available for computation. There must also be some type of integral mechanism that demands something "new" to compute after computing everything that's available. I think he addressed this though, the source of variation is randomness, which he thinks comes from quantum fluctuations. Given random inputs to a computational system, he explained that complex varying structure is a mathematically inevitable consequence. Of course that doesn't explain why we have quantum randomness, or why we have a universe with computational rules. That's a separate question, but how computation and randomness, both of which we observe, we would expect the results we also observe.

[@ManiBalajiC]

​@@simonhibbs887cause randomness answers it , anything with a sequence will need an explanation.randomness doesn't need it , or i like to call it chaos...

[@noelwass4738]

Complex systems arose from evolution over very long stretches of time. I think if we can understand what happens there, we can grasp what happens with complex systems arising. But there is no motivational force behind evolution in the early stages apart from evolution continually tinkering and experimenting trying to better itself. Once intelligence arose the process accelerated because then there is sexual selection.

[@sujok-acupuncture9246]

What discussion is this.

[@tom3fitzgerald]

👶

[@r2c3]

complexity and consciousness is replacing the chicken and egg problem... consciousness is complex and complexity requires consciousness 🤔

[@S3RAVA3LM]

How does one divide consciousness? Without such divisions, remaining one and equally everywhere the same, must then be simple. The objects therein consciousness, of inquiry into the multiplicity, I learn is complex. A demonstration I've learned, which the universals display and abide by: The 4 chief elements: earth, water, air, fire. 1. Earth, and matter, form and the multiplicty thereof, flora & fauna, quite diverse and much division, of qualities, characteristics, contingents, accidents. 2.Water, a form of formlessness, although too, a multiplicity of aquatic life and plants, not quite as diverse as earth. 3. Air, more simple than both earth and water; too, home of a diverse birds and animals; any such substance of earth, in smoke, may pervade the air, but never affects the air, remaining impervious. 4. Fire - light, ever more simple, pure, subtle and powerful to the earth, water and fire; so powerful it grants and sustains all life and order; so subtle it permeates the air and water. Nothing of earth, water, air can have an effect on light; ever impervious. 5. The Aether. Light is a sound wave in the Aether, and is the Aether itself - Tesla. All such elements are perturbation modalities of the Aether - consubstantiality. If consciousness is used a predicate of Brahman, rendered from the term 'Turiya', I can not reason that it is anything other than simple. The Arthor's & books I accredit: Periphyseon, by Eriugena, translation by O'Meara. Plotinus Enneads, 'Select works' translated by Thomas Taylor and complete translation by Lyyod Gerson. Plato, translated by Thomas Taylor. Proclus books, translated by Taylor. Iamblichus books. Syrianus books. Buddha Nikayas. Bhagavad Gita, translated by Sri Aurobindo. Upanishads translated by Nikhilananda 4 vol. set, and the 18 principal Upanishads translated by Radhakrisnan. Upadesa sahashria by sankara, translated by jagadananda. Vivekacudamani by sankara, translated by Madhavananda. Philosophy as a rite of Rebirth by Algis U. Meister Eckhart complete works. The Unknown God, by D. Carabine. Mystical languages of unsaying, by M. Sells. Plotinus: Road to Reality, by JM Rist. Bible - KJV translation only. archaic is very important here with mysticism. Jacob Bohme books - a German mystics Emmanuel Swedenborg books - a scientist turned mystic and metaphysics. Ananda Coomaraswamy books & essays. The presocratic Philosopher's - book. Sweet touches of harmony - book; Pythagorean influence. Lore and science in ancient pythagoreanism - book. The Universal One, by Walter Russel. The gods of field theory: Henri Poincare Tesla Steinmetz Maxwell Heaviside Dollard

[@r2c3]

it seem to me that consciousness has a few characteristics that enables its existence... otherwise instead of consciousness you'd have "nothing"...

[@S3RAVA3LM]

​@@r2c3 the "nothing" is interesting though. Meister Eckhart, in his works - i've read and is very delightful - acknowledged 'the one', the Absolute, or Brahman, as a 'nothing', implying, God is not a thing; so God is not definable or of contradistinction to other things, as something is object and not some thing else, all such things are circumscribed to time and space; whereas in scientific dialectic, utilizing retroduction, this Cause or Source or God, could not ever be something - there can be no other way the Wiseman have revealed. However, this 'nothing', utilized for only as a way to affirm God, therefore enabling us to speak of this unknown God, and for sake of convenience,perhaps, is rendered so, simply because our sense perception instruments fail to detect, this unknown God....however, the Indian wiseman, Platonists etc. ultimately they knew, that all of this, every sound, form, smell, vibration, thought, sight, qualities, essence, natures, laws, spirit, prana, all of this.... is God - perturbation modalities of the Aether. Consubstantiality.

[@r2c3]

​@@S3RAVA3LM many have thought about the Divine in their own ways and to me, existence is related with being rather than not being or mot existing... and as such, everything that exists, either temporarily or indefinitely from what we think, must have a few attributes like, a material thing or not a material thing... application of "nothing" in this case belongs to the material not to all things that we're not capable of knowing or understanding... therefore, i can't make the mistake and attribute zero to anything that can't be directly experienced and therefore explained... embracing both our strengths and weaknesses gets us much closer of understand what we are in reality...

[@Buzz_Kill71]

If a tree falls on a for.... If a big bang happens an no one is around to see it, does or really exist? 😂

[@Maxwell-mv9rx]

Rambling gibberich. Guys model Universe are rubbish model when he keep out from his model fundamental Law of phich. He doesnt know Universe though phich Law seriously. So guys are talking for nothing. They are only talking about Universe. Guys are bellow less zero in Universe Law phich proceendings.

[@user-gk9lg5sp4y]

And yet Lloyd is a working scientist and you are a commentor on youtube

[@Maxwell-mv9rx]

@@user-gk9lg5sp4yWelcome. thank you. Lloyd are talking for nothing. Scientist dont talking wortheless sentence. From Science true proceendings I know much that comments it is NOT left with consistency cosmology reality. I show to you quite believes in myself Science knowledge It is NOT like Lloyd. Any comments about Science from me ensure Science proceendings .

[@Maxwell-mv9rx]

@@user-gk9lg5sp4yIs Lloyd scientist? So he is pseud scientist when his keep out Law of phich proceendings. Phich comments are phich steps proceendings. It is Science true evidence in experiences.

[@user-gk9lg5sp4y]

@@Maxwell-mv9rx 🤣🤣🤣

[@S3RAVA3LM]

Gud dae too u to ser, thanc u fer yur servase.

[@mikel4879]

Useless complicated explanations for simple things. "Much ado about nothing". The true real dynamic of the Universe is extremely simple, and it follows no mathematics at all.

[@Rosiedelaroux]

The cosmos universe is not complex at all. It’s a load of nasty chemicals and ricks on fire. A we who try and attach some mystery to all of this are idiots

[@Gringohuevon]

nonsense

[@reimannx33]

Seth lloyd should be a stand up comic ; not just a siiting one. He has a funny bone r.