Ask A Genius 655: Best of All Possible Worlds in Worlds
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2021/12/27
[Recording Start]
Rick Rosner: Alright, in our previous discussion, we touched upon the concept of the best of all possible worlds, leading to the idea of alternative worlds. Imagine worlds where dinosaurs survived and built civilizations, or universes only a tenth of our size. The scope of these differences varies widely. However, when discussing possible alternate worlds, one can confidently speak of those shaped by different quantum events. For instance, considering a world where Lincoln wasn’t assassinated necessitates a specific causal framework. An easy alternate scenario would involve John Wilkes Booth and a Schrödinger’s cat-style decision based on a quantum event, which clearly wasn’t the actual case. Therefore, imagining a world where Lincoln survives isn’t straightforward.
Extending this to larger differences, like a universe only a tenth our size, raises further complications about the feasibility of such worlds.
Moving on to a different topic, we previously explored seeking evidence that the universe is older than its apparent age of 13.8 billion years. Another aspect to consider is the universe’s arrangement. It’s similar to the concept of random walks in probability. Take a drunkard’s random staggering: it’s extremely unlikely for them to end up eight miles from the bar in a straight line after two hours. Typically, the distance covered is proportional to the square root of time elapsed.
In informational cosmology (IC), the universe’s size correlates with its information content. However, the current structure of the universe, such as its gravitational flatness and the balance between being an open or closed system, seems too intricate for its supposed age. The universe’s organization, including the distribution of galaxies, suggests a need for precise cosmic events. This level of orderliness may be improbable in just 14 billion years but more plausible in a universe that has been accumulating information in a non-linear, random walk manner. The big bang model implies a steady information accumulation, akin to the unlikely scenario of the drunk walking straight. A more probable scenario is an older universe that has gathered 14 billion light-years’ worth of information over a much longer period. This perspective might offer another avenue to argue for an older universe, although proving it might be more challenging than, say, assessing the percentage of gold in the universe.
Alright, wrapping that up, I have one more point to discuss. Recently, while listening to comedy radio in the car, I came across a discussion about a quote from Colin Quinn. It wasn’t related to our earlier conversations, but it did bring to mind the classic jocks versus nerds debate. Quinn mentioned that comedians often play the role of outsiders or the so-called ‘losers’ – those who don’t typically win over the girl. This resonates with the notion that many comedians adopt personas shaped by rough experiences or a sense of not fitting into the ‘cool jock’ stereotype. This perspective aligns with our previous argument about the dynamic between jocks and nerds: jocks are well-adjusted to their environment and don’t necessarily need to innovate, whereas nerds, often feeling out of place, are compelled to think creatively to adapt.
A talented comedian, in this context, is someone who brings novel perspectives to everyday observations. Then, you have comedians like Dane Cook, who might alienate some audiences due to their more abrasive, ‘bro’ style, as opposed to the more relatable, ‘loser’ type of comedian. It seems that in the comedy world, especially among those who truly appreciate the art, authenticity is key. Audiences tend to favor comedians who stand apart from conventional norms, offering unique and thoughtful insights into the world, a trait not commonly found in the typical ‘bro’ comedian.
On another note, having listened to numerous comedians – thanks to Carol’s satellite radio in her old car I’ve been driving – I’ve noticed that most comedians don’t exhibit a commanding or traditionally masculine voice. Joe Rogan, for instance, does have that commanding, masculine tone, but he has somewhat diverged from pure comedy to a more assertive, opinionated role. A similar case could be made for Adam Carolla, who maintains his humor while embodying a more traditionally masculine demeanor. However, most male comedians tend to present themselves in a manner that’s slightly less assertive. This got me thinking: perhaps there’s a comfortable niche both for comedians and their audience in this approach. It seems we prefer our comedians to not embody the alpha male archetype; rather, we lean towards those who appear as the ‘betas’ – individuals who rely on their wit and intelligence to navigate and interpret the world.
[Recording End]
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