Comments on: Secrets of the Mind http://zomghott.com/zomgblog/2006/02/01/secrets-of-the-mind/ WHAT REALLY MATTERS Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:46:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Secrets of the Mind by: matt http://zomghott.com/zomgblog/2006/02/01/secrets-of-the-mind/#comment-23 Thu, 02 Mar 2006 15:28:32 +0000 http://zomghott.com/zomgblog/2006/02/01/secrets-of-the-mind/#comment-23 ANTOCIDE IS MURDER ANTOCIDE IS MURDER

]]> Comment on Secrets of the Mind by: Ray Larabie http://zomghott.com/zomgblog/2006/02/01/secrets-of-the-mind/#comment-20 Thu, 02 Mar 2006 14:54:05 +0000 http://zomghott.com/zomgblog/2006/02/01/secrets-of-the-mind/#comment-20 Scientists already know enough to determine that we are pretty much just machines. Vast, but slow parallel computing devices with chemicals doodads to determine "mood" and various modes of operation. There's the consciouess part tat we don't know but the rest is quite clear. So, are we just machines? Yeah, at least mostly. Still, it's good to takes sides. I think there's a desire by most people to feel "special" - like they're not that same as a computer or an insect. If you deliberately push that to the backburner the "machine reflecting on itself" theory of consiousness is pretty viable - at least it is to me. All the consciousness theories have holes except for the spritual ones because they get to use magic and shit (no fair). The Turing Machine apologists are as bad as intelligent designers becuase they ignore research in favour of dusty old books and arguments made decades ago. But it does matter and aways will matter for one big reason that will seem more relevant in the decades to come: if you make a perfect copy of yourself and kill the original, did you just commit suicide or is your consiousness still alive? This is very important when old people want to transfer themselves to a less biological vessel in the late 21st century (androids). When people on Star Trek use a transporter, are they committing suicide and creating another consciousness on the other pad or doesn their consciousness go along with it. Pothead dialogue at this point but if that's how you travel to work in 2506 AD, you'll really want to know. As for robot slave labour: as long as they're made dumb enough, nobody will care. Proof: ants. An ant probably as more computing power than the computer you're using right now (I guess, I dunno much about ants) but people think nothing of killing a colony of them. Can you prove that an ant isn't conscious? No? Is a dog conscious? Probably. Can I kill and eat a dog? How about a bunny? Mmmmmm. Bunny. Conscious or not: if they seem to have a cosciousness (which is getting easier and easier to fake) people will treat them as if they do. We're pretty sensitive that way. Rip a kid's doll in half for proof of that (try it, it's fun!). I am not blog answerer type of person crackpot - just randomly stumbled on this. Scientists already know enough to determine that we are pretty much just machines. Vast, but slow parallel computing devices with chemicals doodads to determine “mood” and various modes of operation. There’s the consciouess part tat we don’t know but the rest is quite clear.

So, are we just machines? Yeah, at least mostly.

Still, it’s good to takes sides. I think there’s a desire by most people to feel “special” - like they’re not that same as a computer or an insect. If you deliberately push that to the backburner the “machine reflecting on itself” theory of consiousness is pretty viable - at least it is to me. All the consciousness theories have holes except for the spritual ones because they get to use magic and shit (no fair). The Turing Machine apologists are as bad as intelligent designers becuase they ignore research in favour of dusty old books and arguments made decades ago. But it does matter and aways will matter for one big reason that will seem more relevant in the decades to come: if you make a perfect copy of yourself and kill the original, did you just commit suicide or is your consiousness still alive? This is very important when old people want to transfer themselves to a less biological vessel in the late 21st century (androids). When people on Star Trek use a transporter, are they committing suicide and creating another consciousness on the other pad or doesn their consciousness go along with it. Pothead dialogue at this point but if that’s how you travel to work in 2506 AD, you’ll really want to know.

As for robot slave labour: as long as they’re made dumb enough, nobody will care. Proof: ants. An ant probably as more computing power than the computer you’re using right now (I guess, I dunno much about ants) but people think nothing of killing a colony of them. Can you prove that an ant isn’t conscious? No? Is a dog conscious? Probably. Can I kill and eat a dog? How about a bunny? Mmmmmm. Bunny. Conscious or not: if they seem to have a cosciousness (which is getting easier and easier to fake) people will treat them as if they do. We’re pretty sensitive that way. Rip a kid’s doll in half for proof of that (try it, it’s fun!).

I am not blog answerer type of person crackpot - just randomly stumbled on this.

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