From: John K Clark (johnkclark@fastmail.fm)
Date: Sun Feb 22 2009 - 10:57:50 MST
On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 "Matt Mahoney"
<matmahoney@yahoo.com> said:
> Where we get in trouble is to start with the existence
> of consciousness as an axiom. This invariably leads
> to absurdities and paradoxes.
Paradoxes? I can�t think of a single one; odd situations certainly, but
nothing logically inconsistent.
> Starting instead with the axiom that we are programmed
> to believe in our own consciousness avoids this problem.
I have no problem with that as an axiom, and there is nothing wrong with
programming, it often produces true output. If not we wouldn�t have a
computer industry. Or would you prefer the only alternative, that we
believed in things at random?
Apparently you don�t believe you are conscious, so how did you overcome
this universal programming; and how (subjectively or objectively, you
pick) would things be different if you were conscious?
> most people would argue that if you replaced your
> neurons one by one with equivalent circuits until
> your whole brain was in silicon, that you would
> never notice the difference.
And I agree with most people about that.
> And that this is somehow different than running
> a program that simulates you and then killing the original.
And I disagree with most people about that, in fact I have nothing but
contempt for the idea because they never even come close to explaining
what that �somehow� is. They can�t even coherently explain exactly what
the hell is so original about the high holy �Original� or exactly what
is being replaced in the dreaded �Replacement�.
> You can't argue that one is conscious and one is not.
And yet I agree completely with that point.
> given the source code of a program that allegedly
> models your brain, could you (rather than an expert)
> prove it actually does?
No I can�t prove it, but in real life we can seldom rigorously prove
anything of life or death importance. I can�t prove the John Clark of
now successfully modeled the John Clark of 60 seconds ago, I can�t even
prove that person actually existed way back then; but I have a hunch he
probably did.
John K Clark
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John K Clark
johnkclark@fastmail.fm
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