Frank J. Tipler

Frank J. Tipler is a professor of mathematical physics at Tulane University, New Orleans, physicist, theologian and cornucopian philosopher.

Related Topics:
Mathematical physics - Tulane University - New Orleans - Physicist - Theologian - Cornucopian - Philosopher

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(He should not be confused with the physicist Paul A. Tipler (emeritus at the Oakland University), author of a very popular undergraduate textbook on general physics.)

Related Topics:
Paul A. Tipler - Emeritus - Oakland University - Undergraduate - Textbook

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In his controversial book The Physics of Immortality Tipler claims to prove the existence of life after death, provided by an artificial intelligence he calls the "Omega Point" and which he identifies with God. The line of argument is that scientific progress and the evolution of an intelligent population of the Universe are bound to grow exponentially and get ever better control over even the largest-scale structures of the Universe; this development ends with one nearly all-powerful artificial intelligence whose computing speed increases faster than the Universe collapses, thus providing infinite "virtual time" which will be used to resurrect everybody who ever lived by simulating them in a virtual reality.

Related Topics:
Artificial intelligence - Omega Point - Virtual reality

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Tipler claims to have derived from general principles that this is bound to happen. However, a large majority of his colleagues in physics consider his logic to be flawed and do not take his theory seriously. Tipler's so-called Omega Point Theory makes physical assumptions, in particular that the universe will end in a final singularity (the Big Crunch), and that no other (nonfinal) singularities exist in the universe. These physical assumptions are by no means accepted. The review of Tipler's book in the journal Nature by George Ellis is typical of the reception Tipler received in the academic community: according to Ellis, Tipler's book on the Omega Point is "a masterpiece of pseudoscience ... the product of a fertile and creative imagination unhampered by the normal constraints of scientific and philosophical discipline."

Related Topics:
Big Crunch - Nature - George Ellis - Pseudoscience

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