On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 12:54 AM, LizR <lizj...@gmail.com> wrote: > This is explored in (amongst other places) the final chapter of "A history > of the world in 10 1/2 chapters". (The converse is explored in a short story > by Michael Moorcock about someone who goes to Hell and finds it quite > pleasant after a while.)
Liz, thanks for the sci-fi references. I love reading such things. Any idea on where the Michael Moorcock story was published? When I was a kid and had to attend catholic Sunday school, I was terrified of heaven -- it sounded boring and oppressive. Also Sunday school prevented me from watching Battlestar Galactica (the original series). I suspect this was the seed of my deep resentment towards organized religion. Best, Telmo. > This is also discussed in literature on Utopias generally (probably going > back to someone like Plato) - the problem with "wireheading" is that it > omits some of the supposedly necessary features of utopian existence e.g. > breadth and vividness. So although one might be unable to escape it if > placed in this situation, that doesn't mean one would choose it (since when > *not* perpetually blissed out, one can see its inadequacies). > > > > On 21 October 2013 07:43, Craig Weinberg <whatsons...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> On Sunday, October 20, 2013 6:53:41 AM UTC-4, telmo_menezes wrote: >>> >>> On Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 4:26 PM, Craig Weinberg <whats...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> > Another way of approaching human emulation. >>> > >>> > Step 1: Manufacture an inexpensive biofeedback monitor that you plug >>> > into >>> > your internet enabled device. >>> > >>> > Step 2: Braindora reads up your personal data and compares it against a >>> > huge >>> > database of other people’s data, looking for matches. >>> > >>> > Step 3. Meanwhile, Braindora keeps monitoring what you are looking at >>> > online >>> > while it tracks your brain data, comparing your history of what you >>> > find and >>> > how it makes you feel. Matches that correlate to mood improvement, on >>> > both a >>> > short term and long term basis are flagged. >>> > >>> > Step 4: Braindora offers to take over your web browsing, steering your >>> > computer/TV/Ipod/game system automatically to sources which are most >>> > statistically likely to be successful in improving the indicators in >>> > ‘people >>> > who probably feel like you do’. >>> > >>> > Step 5: Customers, who are now virtually incapable of being bored, can >>> > go to >>> > the next level and browse social networks for bio-compatible matches in >>> > the >>> > same way. >>> > >>> > Step 6: Gradually all lifestyle decisions can be ported to the system, >>> > ensuring that that everything that you eat, buy, do, or experience is >>> > optimized at least a little better than you could do on your own. >>> > >>> > Step 7: The entire process will be recorded and fed back into the >>> > system so >>> > that it can be compressed into an algorithm which can be pushed back to >>> > the >>> > customer’s transcranial magnetic stimulation device. As a result, >>> > everyone >>> > will feel like they have a great and constantly improving life, even as >>> > they >>> > degenerate into pulpy masses of human squash. >>> >>> If this was possible, wouldn't you choose it? If not, why not? >> >> >> I might choose it personally, but that is only because my personhood is >> defined by its deprivations. If I were the universe, an ontology of >> masturbation is a dead end. >> >>> >>> >>> >>> I have a recurring similar discussion with a friend: suppose you could >>> be put in a capsule on life support and given a steady supply of a >>> drug that makes you feel pure bliss for the rest of your natural life. >>> Would you agree? If not, why not? >> >> >> I don't think that is actually possible. The intellect can conceive of >> monotonous bliss, but that does not mean that is the way that bliss could >> work. A bliss that you cannot escape from is ultimately a prison. Our >> understanding of sensation points to relation of contrasts, not to >> mechanical absolutes. Feelings are living responses to meaningful >> conditions. We quickly adapt to euphoria, build a tolerance, become bored. >> There may not be any such thing as a bliss which cannot fade into misery >> eventually. If there were, I think it would constitute a kind of universal >> halting, just as strong addiction can suspend normal social functions. >> >> Craig >> >>> >>> > >>> > -- >>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> > Groups >>> > "Everything List" group. >>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> > an >>> > email to everything-li...@googlegroups.com. >>> > To post to this group, send email to everyth...@googlegroups.com. >>> > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. >>> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Everything List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. 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