Lux(λ) |光灵|GEB|Oct 24, 2025 01:26
Self-reference arises from the same formal theoretical rules applied to the same entity, instantiated as a subject, leading to contradictions in language games.
For example, take Russell's barber paradox: there’s a set of formalized barber rules, and Russell applies the same set of rules to both the barber and the person being shaved, treating them as two entities. When these two entities are the same subject, a paradox arises. This kind of logic can only exist in the thought process of the brain and cannot be instantiated as real-world logic. In other words, it’s just a static language symbol creating a language game, without any real-world harm. If the barber breaks his own formalized rules and shaves himself, it doesn’t affect him much.
Another well-known example is Trump suing the U.S. government for defamation over its previous investigation and demanding $230 million in compensation. At first glance, this seems like a self-referential logic, but when viewed dynamically, it’s not self-referential logic.
The self-reference lies in the fact that the entity of the U.S. government was instantiated twice: first as the Biden administration, which investigated Trump, and now as the Trump administration, which has transitioned from the Biden administration. So, it looks like the U.S. government first sued Trump, then Trump sued the U.S. government for compensation, and finally, the U.S. government compensates Trump. This logic involves a subject that can be dynamically transferred (instantiated)—the U.S. government—which is a dynamic type of entity rather than a fixed, unchanging subject.
Bitcoin’s heaviest chain is precisely such a dynamic and mutable type of entity.
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