Counterfactual Causality from First Principles?

In this position paper we discuss three main shortcomings of existing approaches to counterfactual causality from the computer science perspective, and sketch lines of work to try and overcome these issues: (1) causality definitions should be driven by a set of precisely specified requirements rather than specific examples; (2) causality frameworks should support system dynamics; (3) causality analysis should have a well-understood behavior in presence of abstraction.Comment: In Proceedings CREST 2017, arXiv:1710.0277

An Approach to the Category of Net Computations

We introduce the notion of strongly concatenable process as a refinement of concatenable processes [DMM89] which can be expressed axiomatically via a functor $Q[-]$ from the category of Petri nets to an appropriate category of symmetric strict monoidal categories, in the precise sense that, for each net $N$, the strongly concatenable processes of $N$ are isomorphic to the arrows of $Q[N]$. In addition, we identify a coreflection right adjoint to $Q[-]$ and characterize its replete image, thus yielding an axiomatization of the category of net computations

Revealing the Ubiquitous Effects of Quantum Entanglement-Toward a Notion of God Logic

Following Spinoza-Einstein’s interpretation of God or nature, the notion “God Logic” is proposed. This notion is to serve as an elicitation for a consistent set of necessary criteria for: 1) developing the logical foundation of quantum gravity as envisaged by Einstein, 2) revealing the ubiquitous effects of quantum entanglement as suggested by Roger Penrose, and 3) programming the universe as proposed by Seth Lloyd. An evolving set of eleven criteria is proposed for the notion. The possibility of inventing such a logical system is analyzed. A supersymmetrical candidate logic of negative-positive energy dynamic equilibrium is introduced and assessed against the set of criteria. It is shown that the first 10 criteria are met or partially met by the candidate. But the question whether the 11th criterion has been or can be met is left open for discussion and further research effort. The assessment leads to a few predictions. Notably, it is predicted that, should Boson-Fermion symmetry or broken symmetry be observed, it would be caused by bipolar symmetry or broken symmetry of negative-positive energies