Quote:
Originally Posted by SMR
Hi Rob
It's pretty clear that you don't know what a computer program is. Written much code recently?
... Or are you just really looking for a way to discredit ideas that you don't understand, and extend that to other topics that you feel political about? Honest answer, please.
Thanks!
Steve.
|
Hi Steve,
In an attempt to clarify my stance, I am going to go over some past territory again. In my thread starter, I stated "How can a simulation support a particular theory? I suspect that the verification of a theory can only occur if a simulation modeling it makes an observable prediction which can be confirmed. My worry is that many simulations are scaffolding an imaginary Universe without any real-world confirmation." This is my personal observation and my opinion. It was an expression of concern. The article I chose was for a particular reason. I thought it was interesting because a model had been built on how dark matter is distributed in galaxies based on assumptions about dark matter, of which we know little and which may or may not exist. I assumed some computer simulation was involved here but I may be wrong about this and have stated so. Irrespective, the question about how simulations are validated is open to discussion.
Note, that I did not say that all simulations are questionable. Neither was I attempting to ridicule or discredit any of the research. It was a question of concern. If the model produced doesn't confirm or make a prediction about the real world, how is it validated?
In answer to one of your questions, I have experience programming at the machine level and also in languages such as FORTRAN, Pascal and BASIC. I have used and am currently using code to produce star maps on my own computer. I have done some computer simulations myself as a teacher but I don't claim to be an expert in the area.
In my thread starter, I finished with "Anyone else with any thoughts on this?". I was actually welcoming other people's views on this. And I welcome yours. I don't think I was being dogmatic in any way.
Regards, Rob.