[ExI] Another reason why Platonism can't be true

[Jason Resch]

On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 10:18 AM BillK via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

>
>
> On Sun, 22 Feb 2026 at 22:36, Jason Resch via extropy-chat <
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
>> In this case, your only experience of information is physically embodied
>> information, and you extrapolate from this to the conclude that information
>> can only exist when it is physically embodied.
>>
>> But note this is simply an extrapolation from your limited experience as
>> a being in this universe. It's not a logical argument, nor a proof, nor any
>> kind of reliable evidence.
>>
>> <big snip>
>>
>> Jason
>> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> Obviously, Ben and Jason are disagreeing because they are relying on
> different assumptions.
>

I think that is the crux of it.


>
> Ben is sticking with the universe as we experience it. When you burn a
> book, that knowledge disappears until research replaces it with similar or
> alternative knowledge. Infinite undiscovered knowledge does not eternally
> exist in other universes, waiting to be brought into our universe.
> Unfortunately, Ben's assumptions cannot *disprove* other universes'
> existence. He can only say that nobody has seen or detected them.
>
> Jason, on the other hand, by stepping outside our universe, has an even
> greater task to prove that an infinity of other universes exists.
>

I would say that a priori, both tasks are equally difficult, between A)
showing other universes probably do not exist, and B) showing that other
universes probably do not exist. The only thing to settle this question is
to find and consider all the evidence for or against A and B. So far, I
think I have provided numerous sets of evidence in support of B. But I have
not seen any evidence in support of A.


>  Gaps in knowledge about our universe, like creation theory, quantum
> indeterminacy, etc., are not *proof* of other universes. This is a
> philosophical argument along the lines of 'turtles all the way down'. It
> may be the correct way to view an infinity of universes, but it can never
> be proved because, by definition, these universes lie outside our universe.
>

I would only add that science never provides proof. The best we can hope
for is some degree of evidence in support of some provisionally-accepted
theory.

Jason
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