This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Much Ado About Nothing
Mar
14
2008
I disagree that “if you give an infinite number of monkey an infinite number of typewriters, they will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare.”
The statement is meant to demonstrate something about randomness. I disagree with the statement though, because monkeys are not random. They will mostly just bang on the same set of keys and repeat the same sequences. If you give them enough time, eventually they’ll produce the same stuff they produced at the beginning, and none of it will be even close to sensible.
If you had an infinite number of random-letter generators, eventually they might produce the works of Shakespeare. I can’t say that I disagree with that, but I still find the whole concept useless. I don’t know why I am even writing about this topic. I am tempted to write something to relate this statement to something relevant, such as “If you give an infinite number of politicians an infinite number of typewriters, eventually they’ll balance the budget.” or “If you give an infinite number of bloggers an infinite number of websites, eventually they’ll accomplish something.”, but nothing good comes to mind, so I’ll refrain.
There may be some who want to use the monkey theorem to say that given enough time, anything can be produced from randomness. I contend that although that may be the case mathematically, in the real world things are not so random.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
– Psalm 8:3-9
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 10:39 pm and has been carefully placed in the Fun category.
March 15th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I think it was Hobbes who suggested they at least start the monkeys out on something easier than Shakespeare’s works. (That’s Hobbes the tiger, not Hobbes the philosopher.)
March 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I always hear that case used for every single point about the creation of the universe as we know it. Lee Strobel does a good job discrediting it all. Maybe if I you give an infinite number of children an infinite number of toys, they’ll eventually figure out how to put them away. I really don’t see the math behind that one.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Wait … infinite number of children + infinite number of toys? That sounds a lot like the Strong family Christmas.