Subnostr

Einstein’s insight for general relativity was that acceleration and gravity must be the same thing, since a simple instrument can’t distinguish them. From this, he arrived at the curvature of space-time.

Cryptography offers a similar dichotomy. Whether an algorithm is brute-forced, or the user knows the private key, the simple instrument (proof) can’t tell the difference.

In a sense, force and knowledge must be the same thing. But what is our space-time curvature? #asknostr #philosophy

Surfside 11mo ago

They are only indistinguishable locally (like sky diving), but not actually the same thing (big picture mass and energy) so this might be tricky to push out to cryptography? Beyond my pay grade really, but fun to ponder 😀

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Discussion

jimbocoin 🃏 11mo ago

Yeah, still pondering. I mean, it’s a metaphor, which is doomed. Every metaphor is “not the same thing” by definition. If it was the same thing, it wouldn’t be a metaphor.

However, sometimes pondering metaphors leads to insight. That’s what I’m exploring here.

I think there’s something to be said for complexity, intelligence and will. Like, we might say that matter “wants” to get together (gravity). Genes “want” to propagate. Chemicals “want” to react, etc.

And so we intelligent beings of higher complexity want things of a higher order. When we interact with simpler systems, simpler (brute) means apply. If you want to move dirt, you scoop it. But if you want to move public sentiment, sophisticated persuasive tools are more effective than brute force.

To escape a gravity well, you have to expel propellant. Direct application of force in the face of brute physics. To unlock a cryptographic system, you *can* use brute force, but you can also apply knowledge—the private keys.

I don’t know where I’m going with this. Just thinking aloud.

I think it’s more than just “knowledge is power”. Like, knowledge is a superior substitute for force. “Pen is mightier than the sword” kind of thing.