We start this lecture series with a classic metaphysical thought experiment which clearly demonstrates the epistemological limitations of ontology.
Suppose one constructed a box containing a tiny radioactive chunk consisting of one atom with a half life of an hour. In the box is also a decay detector that is rigged to release a vial of poison if and when the decay occurs. Now suppose we add an infinite number of cats to the box along with an infinite number of typewriters and more paper than you can possibly comprehend. Further suppose one were to place this box in a tree in some woods and then leave the woods, subsequent to which the tree might fall with no one hearing it. After an infinite amount of time, the question is whether in this universe there is merely a wave function probability that the cats have produced the entire works of Shakespeare or whether there is a guarantee that in some universe the cats have done so. Further, if the cats were to push a leather bound version of their creation out of the box, would a person in any universe be able to tell whether the box contained cats and typewriters rather than Shakespeare and a bookbinder, or possibly a computer simulation of an infinite number of cats?
Next we'll mentally explore what happens if we accelerate to the speed of light a box possibly containing cats or a dead playwright, and then hurtle it into a black hole.
