On 6/8/07, Torgny Tholerus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Quentin Anciaux skrev: > On Friday 08 June 2007 17:37:06 Torgny Tholerus wrote: > > > What is the problem? > > If a computer behaves as if it knows anything, what is the problem with > that? That type of behaviour increases the probability for the computer > to survive, so the natural selection will favour that type of behaviour. > > I claim that if it behaves as if, then it means it has consciousness... > Philosophical zombie (which is what it is all about) are not possible... If > it is impossible to discern it with what we define as conscious (and when I > say impossible, I mean there exists no test that can show between the > presuposed zombie and a conscious being a difference of behavior) then there > is no point whatsover you can say to prove that one is conscious and one is > not. Either both are conscious or both aren't... While you say you're not > conscious... I am, therefore you're conscious. > > The question, as I see it, is if there is anything "more" than just atoms > reacting with each other in our brains. I claim that there is not anything > "more". The atoms reacting with each other explain fully my (and your...) > behaviour. Our brains are very complicated structures, but it is nothing > supernatural with them. Physics explains everything.
While I would point out that physics cannot possibly explain everything, being a necessarily constrained subjective model of "reality", I would like to reinforce the point about "consciousness." Consciousness certainly exists, as a description relating a set of observations having to do with subjective awareness, but there is nothing requiring that we assign it the status of an ontological entity. - Jef --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
