On the possibility, or otherwise, of hypercomputation

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We claim that a recent article of P. Cotogno ([2003]) in this journal is based on an incorrect argument concerning the non-computability of diagonal functions. The point is that whilst diagonal functions are not computable by any function of the class over which they diagonalise, there is no 'logical incomputability' in their being computed over a wider class. Hence this 'logical incomputability' regrettably cannot be used in his argument that no hypercomputation can compute the Halting problem. This seems to lead him into a further error in his analysis of the supposed conventional status of the infinite time Turing machines of Hamkins and Lewis ([2000]). Theorem 1 refutes this directly. 1 The diagonalisation misunderstanding 2 Infinite computation 3 Conclusion.
Translated title of the contributionOn the possibility, or otherwise, of hypercomputation
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)739 - 746
Number of pages8
JournalBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Volume55 (4)
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2005

Bibliographical note

Publisher: Oxford Univ Press
Other identifier: IDS Number: 874PL

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'On the possibility, or otherwise, of hypercomputation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this