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what if you are the nth person on line? (lemmy.eco.br)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[–] 49 points 3 years ago (3 children)

I pass it to the n+1^th^ person. We can do this forever because integers is infinite.

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  • [–] 39 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (3 children)

    While integers are infinite, humans are not. Eventually the entire population of the earth would be on the tracks and nobody to flip the switch.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Do we consider intelligent aliens to be "person"? Because the universe is also infinite AFAIK

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Most scientists agree it is finite.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Do they? There’s broad consensus on the size of the observable part, but what’s beyond that is surely more speculation than science.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Based on observations it seems that the universe curves in on itself. And is thus finite.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago

    I'm pretty the curvature of the universe has actually been measured to be very close to 0, within margin of error, which would suggest an infinite universe. (It doesn't prove it by any means, though. The curvature could just too small to measure.)

    However, the observable universe is indeed finite, due to the speed of light being finite.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago

    It depends on if we develop the capacity to colonize off world, and the rate at which each test occurs. Even a one-lever-a-second rate would be out grown by the current population rate, and yet some limiters to population are catching up to us. So long as we can keep the population growth rate high (which involves securing food and habitat for the people) we can outrun the trolley into the forseeable future.

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  • [–] 20 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Smart solution. Like this, no one ever gets killed but we need an infinite number of people on the switches.

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  • [–] 16 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Until you get to that one person that would like to end mankind way down the line.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago

    It's curious how they're selected. During the nuclear age we've had nukes in the hands of fanatics who hated the enemy, who were able to comprehend the gravity of their responsibility enough that not once did a nuclear tipped weapon get launched in error or against orders... or at all.

    We're closing on eighty years without an atomic war. Not a small accomplishment. It's one of the few things that gives me hope for humanity.

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  • [–] 12 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    If we can travel faster than the trolley, we could adjust all switches with one person who continues to travel to the next junction before the trolley arrives!

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