1 - It means that only when all the computers in the network can verify and agree that the transaction is correct, it gets validated and registered.
2 - In a central database the entries are made with no validation method, one has to believe they were made in a truthful way, or require a third party to double check the correctness of that entry. So, one is still trusting, either on the author of the data, or on the auditors.
Appreciate your feedback, thank you!!
What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
One definition of Consensus is: a general agreement –
and I would go on to add the word “between” -
between different beings (or “parties” – as in “parties to the agreement”).
In a blockchain recording of transactions,
the Reality or Truth concerning what transactions have Actually - Truly - Really taken place,
is PROVED by the consensus or consensual agreement -
(as dictated by the blockchain code which requires such agreement) -
between the results of the mathematical calculations of each computer (a “being”) on the bc network.
These mathematical calculations are happening/occuring according to the mathematical laws of physics –
PRIOR TO any human beliefs ABOUT them,
PRIOR TO any devious human intentions/abilities to coerce others into a non-True consensus,
for the purposes of deception.
– therefore, these mathematical calculations are a solid foundation upon which to provide
a general agreement - or CONSENSUS - about what actually exists - what IS - what IS TRUE / TRUTH.
How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
A central database could be considered to be “a law unto itself” – accountable to no other database,
perhaps accountable to no-other-anything-or-anyone other than 1 human being having control of/over
that database.
Therefore, whatever that potential single locus of control human being declares to be “Truth”,
must be accepted as so – whether it actually is so in “Reality” or not.
1 - Blockchain consensus determines the truth by many decentralized users maintaining the same database. And consensus or truth can only be achieved once all of the users are in agreeancce about the new information being submitted to the database.
2 - In a centralized database truth is only in the eye of the operator. ie centralized to one controlling party.
Because everbody in the blockchain network will have to check with everybody and come to an agreement. So it is really difficult to cheat.
Because than anyone in control can make up their own truth. So it is easy to cheat.
Consensus ensures there is not just one single party determining what is truth or verifying what is true.
A central database will have a single authority/party determining what is truth.
Exactly! Single point of failure! You can have some backups, but still its not as secure as blockchain!
Hi there!! Don’t worry.
Basically, how do you know the data that comes from a central database is the truth?
Consensus determines the truth by all nodes on the network agreeing that something is true and correct before adding it to the chain. Consensus is achieved through incentive that all parties agree that it is true through provenance.
On a central database truth is determined by someone who decides truth. On blockchain truth is decentralized and all parties must agree.
Consensus is a comparison between all nodes of the blockchain which have retained all previous entries/transactions in order to verify the next attempted entry/transaction thereby verifying the this transaction can be executed because of previously verified data which cannot be changed.
A centrally controlled database can be altered/changed, may or may not be updated in real time, is subject to problems or functional issues that could alter/destroy data, most likely is not personally accessible for my satisfaction or auditing/accounting to verify.
What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
A: Several parties verify that they are all in agreement coming to consensus or the truth.
How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
A: In a centralized database the truth is trust based, and not trustless.
Because all or a group of computers must agree upon a transaction as being true using mathematics and computer science. It’s very logical as Mr. Spock would say.
Centralized data bases are going through a 3rd party and that data can me manipulated.
With the Blockchain it is peer to peer and verified through the network.
In the decentralized network all parties must agree, all transactions are verified against other copies of the ledger
In a central database, that is the “master copy”, and the individual entering the data has to be assumed trustworthy even though they may be “cooking the books.” Even a hired auditor may be bribed, so in the end “truth” is practically determined through faith in the individual responsible for input.
1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
The servers that hold the ledger determine if the data/transaction should be written in to the blockchain by consensus.
2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
In a normal database its alway TRUST that matters, the owner of database decides what the truth is. and it could be hacked or corrupted.
Consensus determines the truth in block chain by a transaction being confirmed by a group of people who are incentivised by money to tell the truth.
In a public database the truth is determined by group of people with financial incentives to tell the truth but in a private database a transaction could be determined by one person and there could be an incentive to tell a lie instead of telling the truth.
1.Incentive of people in blockchain, make consensus to be possible. So what they agreed on determinate what is true or false.
2. In central database truth is determined in centralized way by authority so it can be altered and manipulated.
What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
When thosands of computers world wide have concensus regarding a transaction or contract, then there is no room for discent. The Truth is with the numbers of so many agreeing that this is true. Therefore deemed to be without error.
How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
Central databases are full of contradictions of one said / the other said, which often requires courts to solve the argument at least to the satisfaction of some. There are many views about what happened, it is human nature. The only answer is the truth engraved in the stone of a Blockchain.
Homework on Consensus - Questions
What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
Blockchain is units of public ledger which all must work on top of incentive to gain money
How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
Central database is controlled by a single authority which means any one can remove or add to the database and remove trust to the data