Computational Modeling
Fall 2008

For today, you should:

1) really finish your chapter 5

2) read my chapter 6

3) optional reading, relevant to the quiz question on naturalism:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/science/12geologist.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/magazine/25wwln-geologists-t.html


Today:

1) quiz 4 solutions

2) work on your chapter 6


For next time you should:

1) work on your chapter 6

2) read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumentalism and
   one other source, do exercise 6.5 and come prepared to discuss.


Quiz 4 Solutions
----------------

1) In an n-state CA with m neighbors, the number of possible
neighborhood states is n^m, so the number of possible rules is n^n^m.

In a totalistic CA, the possible neighborhood states are 0 through
n*m, so that's (nm+1) states and n^(nm+1) rules.


2) metaphysical (or ontological) naturalism is an ontology;
that is, it is a claim about what exists.  Specifically, it is the
claim that supernatural things don't exist, and so all natural
phenomena have natural causes.

methodological naturalism is (as the name suggests) a methodology, or
a set of rules to play by.  Specifically, it says that for purposes of
doing science, supernatural explanations are considered unacceptable.
The motivation to adopt this methodological stance might be
ontological ("supernatural explanation are wrong because supernatural
things don't exist") or practical ("if science admits supernatural
explanations, then there is no hope of ever making progress because
any number of supernatural explanations can explain any phenomenon,
with no guidance for theory choice.")

    a) Can you think of any challenges to either or both of
       these definitions?

    b) What role have these definitions played in the debates
       about intelligent design?

    c) What bearing do these definition have on the NYT articles
       I recommended?


3) 

def binary(n, digits):
    """return a tuple of (digits) integers representing the
    integer (n) in binary.  For example, binary(3,3) returns (0, 1, 1)"""
    t = []
    for i in range(digits):
        n, r = divmod(n, 2)
        t.append(r)

    return tuple(reversed(t))



Guide to Chapter 6
------------------

6.1 Enforce abstract class?

6.2 Write at least one implementation of the Drawer abstract class.

    (I think this is an important idea in software engineering,
    so it's worth some time and reflection.)

6.3 Implement Game of Life

6.4 Parsing pattern files (optional)

6.5 Sketch the instrumentalism spectrum (for Friday)

6.6 Read about Langton's Ant

6.7 Read Newman and Ziff (implementation very optional)