Hi Harv,

>>>If chess board was constructed inside a virtual environment, then you would be right - there still exists an algorithm that generates the chess board, players, and supervises the rules of the game.>The issue is what is more fundamental, algorithms or phenomenal things.>The question is why do rules of logic/mathematics exist. The issue is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.If your a platonist like me, then you see those branching points as merely a description of the infinite set of logical and mathematical conclusions that exist 'out there'.>Think in terms of a virtual environment and you can see how an algorithm can create a phenomenal reality. However you don't need a computer since mathematics is creating a phenomenal reality by projecting the meaning of an equation onto a blackboard. For example, the equation of a circle creates a circle.>>Let me ask you, does this intelligence [the god in Paul's scheme] exist in a time and in a space (mathematical concepts you know)?>Does this intelligence use logical rules to know and learn?>If so, then this intelligence is still reliant on the original rules that I say are fundamental to existence.