Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Buridan’s Principle

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Buridan’s principle asserts that a discrete decision based upon input having a continuous range of values cannot be made within a bounded length of time. It appears to be a fundamental law of nature. Engineers aware of it can design devices so they have an infinitessimal probability of not making a decision quickly enough. Ignorance of the principle could have serious consequences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barros, J.C., Johnson, B.W.: Equivalence of the arbiter, the synchronizer, the latch, and the inertial delay. IEEE Trans. Comput. C-32(7), 603–614 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Branicky, M.S.: Universal computation and other capabilities of hybrid and continuous dynamical systems. Theor. Comput. Sci. 138(1), 67–100 (1995)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Busch, P., Grabowski, M., Lahti, P.J.: Operational Quantum Physics. Lecture Notes in Physics., vol. 31. Springer, Berlin (1995)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Edwards, P. (ed.): The Encyclopedia of Philosophy vol. 1. Macmillan/Free Press, New York (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ginosar, R.: Fourteen ways to fool your synchronizer. In: 9th International Symposium on Advanced Research in Asynchronous Circuits and Systems (ASYNC 2003), Vancouver, BC, Canada, pp. 89–97 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hale, J.: Functional Differential Equations. Springer, New York (1971)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Jammer, M.: The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics: The Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics in Historical Perspective. Wiley, New York (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lamport, L.: My writings. http://research.microsoft.com/users/lamport/pubs/pubs.html, can be found by searching the Web for the 23-letter string obtained by removing the—characters from all-lamports-pubs-onthe-web

  9. Munkres, J.R.: Topology: A First Course. Prentice-Hall/Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1975)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Ivan, E.S.: Computers without clocks. Sci. Am. 287(2), 62–69 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Vickers, D.: Discrimination In: Welford, A.T. (ed.) Reaction Times, pp. 25–72. Academic Press, London (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wheeler, J.A., Zurek, W.H. (eds.): Quantum Theory and Measurement. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1982)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microsoft Research, Mountain View, 94043, CA, USA

    Leslie Lamport

Authors
  1. Leslie Lamport
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lamport, L. Buridan’s Principle. Found Phys 42, 1056–1066 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-012-9647-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-012-9647-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation