On Aug 19, 10:26 pm, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> wrote: > On 8/19/2011 6:22 PM, Craig Weinberg wrote:
> > The retina doesn't act on the world in response to light? It doesn't > > send a signal to the brain in the same manner that changes in a metal > > strip triggers the HVAC system? > > The hypothesis was that the retina was detached from the visual cortex. > So it has not way to act on the world. It's like a thermostat that's > not connected to the furnace. Who said anything about a furnace? Apples to apples, thermostat sensor = retina, or thermostat sensor = rod cell. Both things act on *their* world, responding to an electromagnetic change in their environment* in their own way. Whether or not a retina is connected to a furnace or a metal strip is attached to the optic nerve is irrelevant as to their ability to sense electromagnetic changes within a certain range of frequencies. A furnace or a visual cortex is an interpreter of retina interpreting light or an interpreter of metal strips interpreting heat. Your response is interesting though because you are defining sensation as nonexistent without being tied to a tangible impact on 'the world'. This means that already you are compelled to disqualify all passive experience as less than an action which can be seen from the outside and 'not just internally'. You assume that an HVAC is what makes something a thermostat - function = existence. > > > I can't believe that you want me to > > accept that eyes can't see but metal can. What about our skin, surely > > you must give that the same consideration when it contracts into > > goosebumps as when a strip of metal contracts in size? > > Sure it's acting in the world - not just internally. To me that's a rather religious or patriarchal approach - which is fine, I just think that it probably precludes any impartial examination of consciousness on it's own merits. From that perspective, there is no significant difference between a philosophical zombie and a person, as long as the zombie fulfills the same actions on 'the world' (meaning the external physical processes outside of our Selves) it *must* be conscious. >From that perspective, imagination, dreams, and fiction have no value except when they happen to lead to an improvement in the manufacture of Whiffle balls or hand grenades. I'm glad that the universe doesn't believe that also, or we'd all be some form of insect. *If anyone is interested in the SEE view, an electromagnetic change in the environment is actually an electromagnetic change in physical objects within the PRIF. A thermostat sensor expands and contracts in response to the level of excitement in the air, which has been excited by the sun baked walls, warm animal bodies, electrical appliances, etc. Each thing is contributing energy, but not as a substancelike stuff, but as a semantic signal that it's time to relax or tense up. It's a signal that is as discrete or flowing, simple or complex that the receiver hardware can interpret. Craig -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
