Homework on Consensus - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#1871

  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
    In a blockchain, everything is trustless. Everyone in that blockchain, independently, has to agree (or come to a consensus) on what is true before it can be confirmed and accepted into that blockchain ledger as a permanent ledger. In this way, truth is verified and maintained.

  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
    In a central database, no consensus is reached between different groups so anone can alter or manipulate the truth. Also central databases are not permanent records and can therefore be altered. Central Databases do not always represent the truth.

1 Like
#1872

That’s it. Keep up the great work. :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#1873

Consensus forces data to be checked (and confirmed to be true) by many computers before the data is entered on the blockchain, which then becomes a permanent, unchangable ledger.

1 Like
#1874

Conversley, in a central database, information is only confirmed by a single, or at least much smaller network of computers where (incorrect) information may be entered in error or by intent.

1 Like
#1875

  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth? It means that that the information is analyzed by a group to verify that the information is true. If all information is validated, then the info is added to the blockchain.

  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
    In a central database, anyone can change the information before submitting and that information cannot be validated. It is not a public ledger.In blockchain, the information is validated on all nodes (proven true).

1 Like
#1876

1 a transaction become part of the ledger only when the nodes agree on it and they are incentivized for behaving well
2 in a centralized system you have to trust a single entity

1 Like
#1877

  1. Consensus determines the truth because everyone in the network has to be in agreement before a transaction is added to the ledger.

  2. In a central database there is only a central authority to determine the truth not a collective that needs to be in agreement .

1 Like
#1878

  1. When the Network is in Consensus, it is the truth, also because miners are insentivized to tell the truth.

  2. In a Central Database the Data can be manipulated or Changed by Central Autorities.

1 Like
#1879
  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?

The network offers a financial incentive to the decision makers of the network to validate the transactions. Several decision makers are necessary to validate a transaction and determine the truth

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

A central authority has the possibility to determine the truth without additional verification

1 Like
#1880
  1. In blockchain consensus is driven by incentive to tell the truth. If true, the transaction is accepted and an incentive is provided. If false, the transaction is rejected and no incentive is received and it may actually cost the faker money only to have their scam rejected.
  2. With a central database there is no consensus. The truth is whatever the last person to make an entry says it is.
1 Like
#1881

1 because in order to get consensus you need verification of a third party which is incentive on doing it right and tell the truth with money in order to get a real consensus
2. In a central Data base you can not trace all data to verify the truth. The data base works under trust information.

1 Like
#1882

  1. It means that other computers involved in the blockchain contributes by checking to make sure new data can be verified with facts.

  2. A central database is centralized, meaning that the accuracy of data relies on trusting a few biased administrators as opposed to verifiable information.

2 Likes
#1883
  1. A state change is determined by the agreeability of an incentivized decentralized body. If a part of the body cannot agree to the state change it is rejected as a non-truth, lie.
  2. In a central database a single authority can determine or veto the ““truth””. No agreeability is needed.
2 Likes
#1884
  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?

The blockchain is a network of individual computers that confirm all transactions as being true or not. There must be an agreement (or consensus) of every transaction in order to be considered “truth”.

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

With a central database there is no consensus (or group agreement) to determine if something is true. This can result in the need to trust the central database which is not verified as true.

1 Like
#1885

What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
There are a network of computers that have to agree on what is true and what is NOT true in order to gain consensus. If the transaction is agreed upon by the computers in the Blockchain, the transaction is accepted/confirmed onto the Blockchain (ledger/database).

How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
The Blockchain is a decentralized database and with it being a decentralized database, there are many computers which must agree on a transaction to be true meaning the user has enough funds to pay for the transaction. This may NOT be the case in a central database. In a central database, you may be just depending on one computer/person telling the truth which of course may have a greater chance of lying. In a decentralized blockchain all aspects of the transaction/supply chain can be verified which creates a trustless system. If all transactions are verified we have consensus.

2 Likes
#1886
  1. The truth is determined by applying the consensus mechanism. Consensus mechanism means that all parts of the network (miners) are confirming/reaching the consensus that the particular transaction is “true”. Miners are financially incentivized to be truthful/accurate.
  2. In the central database, the truth is determined by employing the auditors/accounts, in other words human, that prone for a human error.
2 Likes
#1887

In blockchain, truth is determined by consensus or by the computers on a network validating transactions.

In a centralized system, there is only one arbiter of truth. In the case of a central database, only one person (or a select few) have access to and control of the information on the database. Trust is inherent in such a system as all other participants do not have equal access to the database.

A decentralized system, like Bitcoin, is said to be “trustless” because there is not central authority. Thus, the power to determine truth is in the hands of more than one person.

2 Likes
#1888

1.In blockchain, consensus is determine through a community /network. when the network agree with the transaction, it will be added into the ledger.

  1. In a central database, truth will be determine by a “dedicated group” of people and they can easily control/change all the facts. Hence, there will be trust issue.
1 Like
#1889

Consensus is achieved by the network validating any transaction according to the rules of the network

In a central database the truth is dependant on on the authority that controls the database

1 Like
#1890
  1. When we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the thruth, we mean that the different nodes in the network are incentivized to agree on the truth together and add it to the blockchain. When the majority of nodes agree on the truth, it is added to the blockchain and this blockchain becomes the longest and is distributed through the network to the other nodes.
  2. In a central database, truth is determined by one or a few central parties. Anyone who control the database can alter the data and everyone who depend on this data has no other choice but to trust this data and these central parties. This is contrary to the blockchain because the blockchain removes the need for trust, since truth in the blockchain is determined by consensus reached between all the nodes in the network.
1 Like