The question of the cause of 2 is the same as the question of the cause of the shape of the Mandelbrot fractal. The natural numbers are literally a fractal, with Peano's axioms being one possible rule set, and we discover (not create) them and their properties by computation.
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If a universe presents itself via discernible differences (information) and is regular enough for computation, then its substrate (if it has one) must necessarily and sufficiently be a computer, i.e. a system capable of regular state change with Turing universality.
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To me this assertion appears to ignore the fact that even the computability of maths is conjecture not a fact ; so I would say that where you use 'must' in this and the following tweet, that 'I conjecture' would be more accurate?
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Mathematics is mostly uncomputable. The existence of turing universal computers that can do constructive math is an empirical fact.
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So why think anything else is computable if even maths isn't? Unrelatedly I confess I was riled by “computationalism the only working philosophical edifice” in a way I wouldn't be by “computationalism is an interesting idea worth exploring.”
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If you have any other philosophical system that can explain mind and universe from first principles, I’d love to hear about it!
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Solipsism and “it's all an illusion” can both explain all available data completely. But most of us reject them. Empiricism is very fashionable since C18, with naturalism/physicalism just now being challenged by a resurgent panpsychism but likely to stay ahead for a while. …
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Replying to @chrisfcarroll @Plinz and
…Cartesian dualism meanwhile is completely out of fashion. But they all have difficulties. My particular hobbyhorses is to point out that all these philosophies—and hence all knowledge acquired with them—are _choices to believe_, not statements of fact.
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If we know multiple theories to have the same explanatory power, we are not free to pick one as our preferred belief, but are rationally forced to remain agnostic. (Pragmatically, we may be forced to make bets, though.)
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So, as with believing in other minds in preference to p-zombies, I believe in a string of things that are neither tautological nor empirical; for instance that I live in a universe that is so stable and reliable I can meaningfully study it.
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There is no need to believe this, you can treat this surprising theory skeptically and with an open mind and see how far it gets you.
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