Clear all
Work #877 · Mid

A New Kind of Science

Stephen Wolfram
1991-2002 (composed over 11 years); 2002 (published) · English
Scientific-mathematical treatise · Early-twenty-first-century computational science

Wolfram's 2002 1200-page treatise — cellular automata, computational equivalence, computational universe

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute A New Kind of Science (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Discrete
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

A New Kind of Science

The discrete computational time.

Space

A New Kind of Science

The cellular-automaton grid.

Matter

A New Kind of Science

Computational matter as cellular states.

Observer

A New Kind of Science

The computational scientist.

Energy

A New Kind of Science

Energies of computational evolution.

Information

A New Kind of Science

Information as fundamental computational pattern.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

A New Kind of Science

Wolfram's New Kind of Science: foundational reference for computational and dataist worldviews; controversial in mainstream science.