Re: Jeff Hawkins Q&A


You "answerer" here is making assumptions which are extremely weak ....


> Now THERE'S an explanatory theory ...
>
> "Why are we conscious?"
>
> "Because our brains are complex."
>
> "But animals seem to be conscious, too."
>
> "Their brains are complex enough to get consciousness as well."
>
> "Why aren't they as smart as we are?"
>
> "Their brains aren't complex enough."
>
> "How do we know how complex a brain has to be to be intelligent?"
>
> "We don't know"
>


Again, the simple classical "linear" thinking. I've read many of these
stupid made-up discussions, and what's obvious is the "same" guy is the
one doing both questioning and answering. And both have the same
failure of imagination.

The answer is not we don't know. The answer is there is a progression
of complexity of brains, and a progression of degree of intelligence
and consciousness. The 2 go hand in hand, and there isn't simply a
"threshold" for when either "occurs". It's process, not a thing. Think
of a gradated "scale", low on one end and high on the other, not just
is or isn't. That's where these discussions go wrong.

The problem with these dialogues is they use simple Aristotelian
if...then logic, but the antecedents are so simplified that the
conclusions are just plain silly. In the real world, the antecedents
are enormously more complex than in the dialogues, and simple yes-no
logic is not good enuf.



> "Why is it that a more complex brain or brain structure leads to
> consciousness/intelligence?"
>
> "We don't know."


Oh, lord.

Correct answer: We don't know yet, but we're working on it. We know a
lot, but the system is incredibly complex, and we've only had the
scientific tools to even "begin" to study it for about 50 years.


>
> Summary: Seems like we don't know anything.


You definitely need to put a little more imagination into your
dialogue. Maybe should read some more Socrates.

And then ask yourself, what is different between Socrates' day and
today? And then learn something about modern science.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The human mind, evolution - and crackpots.
    ... You see there are things also, that science just ignores. ... machine, with sufficient complexity, that consciousness arises from ... human brains, and maybe even use that ability to do very subtle ... Yes, but you think it based on a rich fantasy life, not evidence. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Qualia Question
    ... >> We can come to observe anything for which we have relevant sensory ... Introspection isn't like looking at yourslf ... Which is equivalent to saying there is no such thing as consciousness. ... The only basis I can think of for asserting that brains don't obeserve ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Consciousness, Mind, Matter, Meaning and Information
    ... as some substance that permeates the Universe or that ... So consciousness is an inter/subjective phenomenon. ... with inter/subjective and objective perspectives replacing ... the activities in biological brains. ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Ask an atheist a question
    ... And I say that consciousness is the most ... answers come explanations which are frequently at odds with our ... Why don't our brains function exactly as they do producing ... figuring out what I am saying and what I am denying. ...
    (uk.religion.christian)