On Mar 1, 8:12 pm, Stathis Papaioannou <[email protected]> wrote:
> You do assume, though, that brain function can't be replicated by a > machine. No, I presume that consciousness is not limited to what we consider to be brain function. Brain function, as we understand it now, is already a machine. >That has no firmer basis than a claim that kidney function > cannot be replicated by a machine. After all, brains and kidneys are > made out of the same stuff. The difference is that I am not my kidneys, but the same cannot be said about my brain. It doesn't matter to me if my kidneys aren't aware, as long as they keep me alive. The brain is a completely different story. Keeping my body alive is of no concern to anyone unless I am able to participate and participate directly in the life of that body. If a replicated brain has no awareness, or if its awareness is not 'me', then it is no better than a kidney grafted onto a spinal cord. >You could bite the bullet and declare > yourself a vitalist. I'm not though. I'm a panexperientialist. I only point out that there is a difference between the experience of a kidney, a brain, and an array of transistors. You can't make a jellyfish out of clocks or a glass of water out of sand. Craig -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
