Conciousness is akin to the phlogiston theory in chemistry. It is likely a shadow concept, similar to how the bodily reactions make us feel that the heart is the seat of emotions. Gladly, cardiologist and heart surgeons do not look for a spirit, a soul, or kindness in the heart muscle. The brain organ need not contain anything beyond the means to effect physical behavior,.. and feedback as to those behavior.
A finite degree of sensory awareness serves as a suitable replacement for consciousness, in otherwords, just feedback. Would it really make a difference if we were all biological machines, and our perceptions were the same as other animals, or other "designed" minds; more so if we were in a simulated existence. The search for consciousness is a misleading (though not entirely fruitless) path to AGI. --- On Fri, 11/14/08, Richard Loosemore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Richard Loosemore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [agi] A paper that actually does solve the problem of consciousness > To: agi@v2.listbox.com > Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 12:27 PM > I completed the first draft of a technical paper on > consciousness the > other day. It is intended for the AGI-09 conference, and > it can be > found at: > > http://susaro.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/draft_consciousness_rpwl.pdf > > The title is "Consciousness in Human and Machine: A > Theory and Some > Falsifiable Predictions", and it does solve the > problem, believe it or not. > > But I have no illusions: it will be misunderstood, at the > very least. > I expect there will be plenty of people who argue that it > does not solve > the problem, but I don't really care, because I think > history will > eventually show that this is indeed the right answer. It > gives a > satisfying answer to all the outstanding questions and it > feels right. > > Oh, and it does make some testable predictions. Alas, we > do not yet > have the technology to perform the tests yet, but the > predictions are on > the table, anyhow. > > In a longer version I would go into a lot more detail, > introducing the > background material at more length, analyzing the other > proposals that > have been made and fleshing out the technical aspects along > several > dimensions. But the size limit for the conference was 6 > pages, so that > was all I could cram in. > > > > > > Richard Loosemore > > > ------------------------------------------- > agi > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now > RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ > Modify Your Subscription: > https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=120640061-aded06 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
