A little thought experiment
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Let’s say a magical/divine figure randomly picked a strong amateur (let’s say around 1600-1900) and placed them in an infinite time loop. Here the player would play the divine figure (skill level as AlphaZero) for infinity until they beat it. The player wouldn’t age or have the need to eat during this loop. Can the phrase “practice makes perfect” work in this case, assuming the player will play for decades, maybe even centuries, straight?
Reinhardt776 wrote:
Let’s say a magical/divine figure randomly picked a strong amateur (let’s say around 1600-1900) and placed them in an infinite time loop. Here the player would play the divine figure (skill level as AlphaZero) for infinity until they beat it. The player wouldn’t age or have the need to eat during this loop. Can the phrase “practice makes perfect” work in this case, assuming the player will play for decades, maybe even centuries, straight?
No, because the 1600-1900 player will never overcome his brain cloud.
notmtwain wrote:
Reinhardt776 wrote:
Let’s say a magical/divine figure randomly picked a strong amateur (let’s say around 1600-1900) and placed them in an infinite time loop. Here the player would play the divine figure (skill level as AlphaZero) for infinity until they beat it. The player wouldn’t age or have the need to eat during this loop. Can the phrase “practice makes perfect” work in this case, assuming the player will play for decades, maybe even centuries, straight?
No, because the 1600-1900 player will never overcome his brain cloud.
Can you explain what you mean by this? Do you think a Grandmaster or someone in the world top 10 would fair better?
I think, someday his skill will be absolute, but sometimes he will make mistakes (very rarely, but will). And in some games he will be equal magic/divine figure, but it cant do mistake, and this player will only achieve a draw.
Apr 29, 2020
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#5
Reinhardt776 wrote:
Let’s say a magical/divine figure randomly picked a strong amateur (let’s say around 1600-1900) and placed them in an infinite time loop. Here the player would play the divine figure (skill level as AlphaZero) for infinity until they beat it. The player wouldn’t age or have the need to eat during this loop. Can the phrase “practice makes perfect” work in this case, assuming the player will play for decades, maybe even centuries, straight?
No. The player will die of boredom from eternally playing chess. As much as I love chess, nobody can play it forever.
Howhorseymove wrote:
While I can see the person getting stronger, there is a practical limit to a persons chess playing ability.
An example would be if I was made immortal and never aged, never got sick, was equivalent to being Superman that could not be hurt in any way I.e. no kryptonite, never got tired or hungry or thirsty and then I decide that I want to paint.
No matter how much I might paint, I am never going to be a great artist. I could take lessons from a similar immortal artist and improve but simply put I would just make better paintings but not the kind of paintings that you would see in an art gallery.
An example would be if I was made immortal and never aged, never got sick, was equivalent to being Superman that could not be hurt in any way I.e. no kryptonite, never got tired or hungry or thirsty and then I decide that I want to paint.
No matter how much I might paint, I am never going to be a great artist. I could take lessons from a similar immortal artist and improve but simply put I would just make better paintings but not the kind of paintings that you would see in an art gallery.
Well said.
I pondered this while watching my DVD box set of Highlander, the TV series.
long_quach wrote:
Well said.
I pondered this while watching my DVD box set of Highlander, the TV series.
Just like Highlander, when it comes to a world championship title, "In the end, there can be only one."
Reinhardt776 wrote:
Can the phrase “practice makes perfect” work in this case, assuming the player will play for decades, maybe even centuries, straight?
No. Chess, MMA, boxing. The world champions are younger and younger.
It's not like old Kung Fu movies where the bad guy is some old guy with white hair and long beards.