Homework on Consensus - Questions

[elconocrypto]

@ivan

• What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
  It happens because the parties involved agree in an incentive to play by the rules of the agreement. Once they agree the network determines if the data introduced to the blockchain is truth or not by accepting it or not.

• How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?

In a central data base the truth can be manipulated because a central authority. The owner determines the truth he wants to share.

[PatricioEncalada]

1. The truth about a transaction being valid and mathematically making sense is decided by a network of computers (nodes) that collectively determine the truth and have incentives to do so.
2. In a centralized database the truth about the transaction being valid or not is held by third parties that can manipulate the truth because they hold the information in a private way.

[RKO]

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
   That independent and decentralized parties have come to the same conclusion regarding transaction details ie. sufficient funds of the sender

2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
   This decentralized network creates a trustless system that is actively being updated, audited and verified simultaneously. This provides verification for all parties, at all levels of the transaction or supply chain rather than the sole party in control of the data or ledger.

[Doppe]

1. Decentralised or majority consensus on data is required before entry onto the block chain. If there is no consensus then the data is treated as erroneous and false. So the data entered onto the blockchain is considered the truth.
2. The owner of the central database may mandate truth of data that may in fact be false.

[justwest]

1. Consensus is achieved when the network of validators agrees that a transaction meets network requirements unanimously across that community. therefore, the transaction is determined to be truthful and valid.

2. a central database is only audited by a chosen individual or select few. therefore, if the data is somehow compromised, there is no validator outside of the original chosen manipulators to validate a transaction’s true provenance. this system is based on trust, rather than immutable truth.

[Dana_Gant]

1. With blockchain, consensus allows for agreement that all transactions are legitimate and are correct in being in the chain. All parties agree that the transaction is true.

2. In a central database, there are a select few that control the flow of truth or data. It can be manipulated as they see fit to alter the outflow of information. With blockchain, that manipulation is not as straightforward.

[phenomenhon]

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
   Because with blockchain, everything is networked together and if all the entities are communicating with each other then if one entity is not telling the truth, the other entities can verify that it is not the truth. However, to maintain the consensus you will need incentive.

2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
   In a central database there’s a huge need for trust that the entity is telling the truth. In a decentralized consensus, everyone needs to tell the truth otherwise whoever is not telling the truth will be exposed.

[itsPrimeTimeKD]

1. consensus is the way that the computer(s) come to the conclusion to verify what is inputed to the blockchain

2. it is different because we don‘t need other third parties to confirm the legitimacy of what in inputed into the blockchain, because consensus does that for us.

[ish]

1. A network of computers verifies transactions by agreeing that a transaction is true and therefore is entered in to the Blokchain(public ledger). If the transaction is false then that transaction is not entered into the Blokchain(public ledger).
   2.Central database can be manipulated by central authority. He/she can enter true or false information into the database without any contest.

[devona_harris]

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
   In Blockchain, Consensus determines the truth because all decisions and transactions are double checked between the nodes in the network to verify accuracy.
2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
   In a centralized database the truth is determine by only one authority who has control over the whole network.

[Viktor_Trenev]

1.That means each participants of the network is confirming everything that is happening on the blockchain.
Based on the information it already has and the requests to make changes on the chain (Transactions).

2.It is different because in central data base you can fake the information so you can make it look truthfull to the user.
But the blockchain is decentralised so there is no authority that can intervene and corrupt it.

[Reach.Higher]

1.Consensus is when the information or update on the ledger is verified with the network of other computers holding the database of prior ledgers. Not one or two single people are in charge of what information gets through, all the information is passed on transparently which creates trust or distrust, but ultimately trust because the blockchain technology shares the information objectively, whether is good or bad, not opinion-based. Users can trust that all information will be there.

2.The “truth” of a central database is decided by the single person who writes it, with zero offerings of transparency or an opportunity to fact check.

[FTL]

Homework on Consensus - Questions

1.	What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
	
	Answer: 	A majority of evaluating entities agree upon a result.
			—	Multiple parties have evaluated an update or result (transaction) and they agree upon that result (they arrive at the same conclusion).
			—	This means they concur that a transaction or result is valid according to their own (individual) mechanisms.
			—	The evaluation mechanisms employed must be essentially identical to ensure accurate result alignment (e.g. we both understand and agree to “what we are looking at”, “how we process it” and that we use identical metrics in doing so).  

2.	How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
	
	Answer:	Truth in a central database is not determined via distributed evaluation and agreement (consensus).  Rather “truth” is declared via the creation of a record (the creation of a transaction in the db, etc).  
			— This means there is no peripheral validation process to establish the origin of (the) record is “authentic” according to some protocol or agreement.  
			— Further into the philosophical weeds:  In a centralized database, a syntactically accurate record (inserted or created via appropriate permission level) is not necessarily an appropriate transaction (record) because there is no assurance the entity which created the record did so in accordance to a mutual agreement (trust) …simply because there is no “mutual agreement” protocol to do so *at the centralized level*.

[EllenM]

1. Consensus determines the truth because an individual can’t cheat; the verifications required along the supply chain network remove trust from the process.
2. The blockchain network comes to an agreement on what is true and what is not true.

[Mark_Dalton]

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
   It means that the information was confirmed by multiple independent blockchain nodes/computers and they came to a agreement (consensus). So the data has been verified as best it can. And the reason the nodes/computer owners also want to tell the truth is there are financial incentives to do so. It provides a high level of trust in the data.

2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
   For consensus data is commonly from one source, controlled by a single entity, nor verification or confirmation by independant or even multiple nodes. Data dropped we not be noticed, data changed would not be cha
   llenged, data added would not be found, unless manually re-audited and a separate independent storage was done. (I would hope financial does better, but reminds me of the old rounding schemes taking fractions of a $0.01 cent per transaction).

   It would depend on the type of database, but for most all are true, others most are true:
   a. Normally data is trusted from the source.
   b. Data is not verified by multiple sources/nodes/entities.
   c. Data controlled from a single entity.
   d. The incentives may be mixed, telling the truth may be a negative incentive. (like recording real issues/problems due to liability).

[ITakeTheRedPill]

1. Consensus means that the node agree on which transactions get added to the blockchain ledger.

2. In a central database one central authority determines which transactions are valid. In the blockchain space however the nodes must agree before they add a transaction.

[MAKIO]

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
   The consensus keep the trust of the transaction, so it is difficult to cheat on others for their own benefits.

2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
   In the central database, the truth is determined by the central database. All the users have to follow the decision of it. On the other hand, the distributed database, every one owe the truth and agreement for the transaction. Therefore, a person cannot cheat everyone.

[Thomas_Plank]

1. Consensus and proof of work are the main reasons why the miner network can be trusted even if some nodes pass on false information.

2. There is a lot of room for errors in central databases. Blockchain relies on consensus and a well-known protocol which determines communication on the network.

[Charlene_Nicer]

1.) Reaching consensus in blockchains means that a group of nodes agree on the status of a transaction. And this agreement is followed and is considered the truth.

2.) In a centralized database, there is only 1 copy, it is hard to say whether the information there is the truth or altered.

[Bongani_Msibi]

1: In Blockchain truth is determined by consensus when all the computers in the network accept a transaction and add it into the blockchain. When all the computers in the network accept a transaction into the blockchain they agree that it is true.
2: In a central database there is a central authority that determines if a transaction is true or not, therefore only one participant who determines the truth.