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Author Topic:   Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe
Mission for Truth
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 15 (121271)
07-02-2004 5:16 PM


Has anyone read anything about Christopher Langan's theory? In the intellectual world the guy is quite an icon already with an IQ around 195, give or take. I just wanted to know if anyone has read some of his stuff and what they think of it.
From what I understand (even his language is way more advanced than mine) the universe and 'information' are linked, like space-time. In essence *I think* he's trying to show that conscience could be another dimension tied to the known universe.
If anyone knows more about it or has a different opinion, let me know.

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by PaulK, posted 07-02-2004 6:25 PM Mission for Truth has replied

  
AdminNosy
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joined: 11-11-2003


Message 2 of 15 (121272)
07-02-2004 5:19 PM


Thread moved here from the Coffee House forum.

  
Mission for Truth
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 15 (121281)
07-02-2004 5:53 PM


I was wondering where that went.

  
arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1344 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 4 of 15 (121284)
07-02-2004 6:07 PM


looks crackpot to me.

  
PaulK
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Posts: 17822
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.2


Message 5 of 15 (121287)
07-02-2004 6:25 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mission for Truth
07-02-2004 5:16 PM


I beleive that he tried discussing his "theory" on ISCID. It looked link typical crank pseudoscience to me there - plenty of armwaving about how great it was but little substance.
Langan's activities in the "high IQ" world are a little more interesting. You might find this interesting - it presents the other side of a dispute involving Langan A Reply to Chris Langan
I've also heard that Langan qualified fo the Mega Society when he took the test for the SECOND time - the first time he used a pseudonym. That is against the rules and suggests that his IQ may not be as high as he claims.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mission for Truth, posted 07-02-2004 5:16 PM Mission for Truth has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by Mission for Truth, posted 07-02-2004 7:00 PM PaulK has replied

  
Mission for Truth
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 15 (121292)
07-02-2004 7:00 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by PaulK
07-02-2004 6:25 PM


That may be so. But how far did you actually read? Right now I'm on page nine of the fifty-six pages - not far by any means - however, after you essentially adapt to his advanced language one begins to understand his ideas. Keep in mind, also, that this is an introduction to his theory. It has to be generalized enough to take us out of our reality-defining ToE rut, so to speak, and guide you well enough to be able to lay the theory on. In other words it's like training an old dog new tricks.
As far as not being permitted into the Mega Society the first time - if that's true or not - how many people could actually get in if they had as much as five tries? Or, even one hundred? So, even if he did need two times to get in - assuming he "cheated" the first time - the point is: he did.
This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 07-02-2004 06:03 PM
This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 07-02-2004 06:10 PM

In the words of John Wheeler: "Physics gives rise to observer participantcy; observer participantcy gives rise to information; and information gives rise to physics."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by PaulK, posted 07-02-2004 6:25 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by PaulK, posted 07-03-2004 6:19 AM Mission for Truth has not replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17822
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.2


Message 7 of 15 (121571)
07-03-2004 6:19 AM
Reply to: Message 6 by Mission for Truth
07-02-2004 7:00 PM


All I will say of the theory is that the discussions at ISCID revealed a lot of unnecessary jargon and grandiose claims which were never supported. Both are hallmarks of crank science.
You don't understand the problem with the IQ test. If you take a test for a second time you have an advantage - you already know the questions. That is wehy the rules state that only one attempt is allowed. It is not that Langan cheated the first time - it is that taking the test a second time IS cheating.

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Mission for Truth
Inactive Member


Message 8 of 15 (121609)
07-03-2004 12:03 PM


What's ISCID?
Hasn't every other major scientific idea been subject to major scrutiny?

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by Melchior, posted 07-03-2004 12:19 PM Mission for Truth has replied

  
Melchior
Inactive Member


Message 9 of 15 (121612)
07-03-2004 12:19 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Mission for Truth
07-03-2004 12:03 PM


ISCID = International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design
Their webpage, http://www.iscid.org, introduces them as this;
www.iscid.org writes:
The International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design (ISCID) is a cross-disciplinary professional society that investigates complex systems apart from external programmatic constraints like materialism, naturalism, or reductionism. The society provides a forum for formulating, testing, and disseminating research on complex systems through critique, peer review, and publication. Its aim is to pursue the theoretical development, empirical application, and philosophical implications of information- and design-theoretic concepts for complex systems.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Mission for Truth, posted 07-03-2004 12:03 PM Mission for Truth has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by Mission for Truth, posted 07-03-2004 1:12 PM Melchior has replied

  
Mission for Truth
Inactive Member


Message 10 of 15 (121615)
07-03-2004 1:12 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by Melchior
07-03-2004 12:19 PM


Do you have the link that talked about the CTMU on that site?
So, basically it's a professional peer review site for pseudo-scientific theories?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by Melchior, posted 07-03-2004 12:19 PM Melchior has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by Melchior, posted 07-03-2004 2:32 PM Mission for Truth has not replied
 Message 12 by PaulK, posted 07-03-2004 5:59 PM Mission for Truth has not replied

  
Melchior
Inactive Member


Message 11 of 15 (121626)
07-03-2004 2:32 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Mission for Truth
07-03-2004 1:12 PM


I did a search in the article archives, but no dice. It seems like those discussions were on the members-only forums.

This message is a reply to:
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PaulK
Member
Posts: 17822
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.2


Message 12 of 15 (121651)
07-03-2004 5:59 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Mission for Truth
07-03-2004 1:12 PM


There was discussion on the Public forums. It's possible that I was wrong and it was the ARN forums that most of the discussion took place.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by Mission for Truth, posted 07-03-2004 1:12 PM Mission for Truth has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 13 by Melchior, posted 07-03-2004 6:45 PM PaulK has replied

  
Melchior
Inactive Member


Message 13 of 15 (121654)
07-03-2004 6:45 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by PaulK
07-03-2004 5:59 PM


It seems like the first mention of him in the public forums is an announcement/linkage two years ago to the pdf file mentioned in the OP of this thread.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by PaulK, posted 07-03-2004 5:59 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by PaulK, posted 07-05-2004 5:03 AM Melchior has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17822
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.2


Message 14 of 15 (122034)
07-05-2004 5:03 AM
Reply to: Message 13 by Melchior
07-03-2004 6:45 PM


That's how ISCID works. But if you want to go into the grisly details you need to look at the Brainstorm forum.
For instance this 22-page thread
http://www.iscid.org/boards/ubb-get_topic-f-6-t-000397.html

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Melchior, posted 07-03-2004 6:45 PM Melchior has replied

Replies to this message:
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Melchior
Inactive Member


Message 15 of 15 (122060)
07-05-2004 7:06 AM
Reply to: Message 14 by PaulK
07-05-2004 5:03 AM


Ah, okay. Must have missed it due to the rather 'generic' topic.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by PaulK, posted 07-05-2004 5:03 AM PaulK has not replied

  
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