--- Vladimir Nesov <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> On Jan 24, 2008 4:29 AM, Matt Mahoney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > Just about all humans claim to have an awareness of sensations, thoughts,
> and
> > feelings, and control over decisions they make, what we commonly call
> > "consciousness".  A P-zombie would make such claims too (because by
> definition
> > a P-zombie is indistinguishable from human), so belief in consciousness is
> not
> > the same as consciousness.  It is easy to test for this belief in humans.
> > Just ask them.
> 
> Well, you just said that you can't actually tell a p-zombie from a
> conscious person, so 'just ask them' hardly qualifies.

That is a test for belief in consciousness, not a test for consciousness.

> 
> 
> > Awareness requires episodic memory.  If you do not remember an event, then
> you
> > were not aware of it.  If you are not aware of an event, then you will not
> > remember it.  In this sense, we could demonstrate awareness in animals by
> > testing for episodic memory in a way that doesn't rely on language.
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodic_memory#Episodic_memory_in_animals
> 
> So, you say that episodic memory is an aspect of consciousness and
> presence of episodic memory (partially) indicates consciousness? Or
> belief in consciousness? If consciousness doesn't exist, it must be a
> belief.

Episodic memory is an aspect of belief in consciousness.  Consciousness does
not exist.


-- Matt Mahoney, [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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