From: Zeb Haradon (zharadon@inconnect.com)
Date: Mon Nov 29 1999 - 23:18:36 MST
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Fabulich <daniel.fabulich@yale.edu>
To: extropians@extropy.com <extropians@extropy.com>
Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: qualia
>
>Consider this question: It is natural to say that the sun revolves around
>the earth; we refer to the "rising/setting sun" as if we believed that
>this was what was really going on. Why? Because it SEEMS like the sun
>revolves around the earth. But what would it seem like if the earth
>revolved around the sun? Similarly, what would it feel like if "red" WAS
>the objective movement of matter?
>
You're starting to lead into the real issue. I can draw you a diagram of an
earth and a sun, with the earth revolving around the sun, explain how the
earth rotates, draw a little stick figure guy on the surface of the earth,
and explain, in a way which would be comprehensible given a little insight,
how although the earth revolves around the sun, it seems the other way
around since the earth is rotating. Nobody can currently give a similar
description of consciousness. That doesn't mean it's not possible (although
I have my suspicions). Maybe when we have understanding of it, we will
realize that qualia is a confused term, referring to part of a phenomena, or
several phenomena. I would say qualia is "what it seems like", or, if qualia
only seem to exist and don't really exist, I refine my definition saying
qualia is ""what it seems like" seems like".
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