[ExI] Do we live in a universe that allows infinite computation?

[Anders Sandberg]

john clark wrote:
> Suppose you had 2 spools of string connected together by an axle and 
> you extended the 2 strings to cosmological distances 180 degrees apart 
> from each other. As long as the Dark Energy force between the atoms in 
> the string that were trying to force them apart was not stronger than 
> the attractive electromagnetic force holding the atoms of the string 
> together the string would not expand as the universe expanded, so 
> there would be a tension on the strings, so there would be torque on 
> the spool, so the axle would rotate.
>

One of us over here (Stuart Armstrong) has had the same idea. So far we 
have not found any cosmologist who can explain what is wrong with it.

My money would be on that there is something wrong here, but it is 
likely subtle.

-- 
Anders Sandberg,
Future of Humanity Institute
Philosophy Faculty of Oxford University