Could you point us to these papers ?
Say consciousness is like software. Inside the brain it is running and
undergoes state transitions. But, suppose we figure out a way to record
one's consciousness on a some medium. From a technical standpoint we could
ask a person to use some device to record everything he knows and teach it
his patterns of thought. After the person dies, his consciousness continues
to exist and function inside a computer.
Turn the computer off -- no dynamics, but the consciousness is still there
on the hard drive.
At 08:48 PM 1/2/01 +1100, you wrote:
>There is a paper or two out of the university of Otago (New Zealand) on
>consciousness being a result of phase transition; ice-water-steam , neurons,
>neurotransmitters/nodulators, consciousness.
>
>It is noteworthy that hormonal processes (which neurotransmitters are) can
>be tied to a link of neurochemistry problems that lead to negative thoughts.
>
>Mind therefore requires dynamics to express itself, no dynamics, no mind.
>
>Chris.
>------------------
>Chris Lofting
>websites:
>http://www.eisa.net.au/~lofting
>http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ddiamond
>Lists: semiosis@egroups.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk
> > [mailto:owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk]On Behalf Of dulino
> > Sent: Tuesday, 2 January 2001 8:00
> > To: Metaphysics of Quality Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: MD Prodding of brains.
> >
> >
> >
> > These are just some thoughts on this matter. Keep in mind this this is my
> > first coherent post on a philosophical subject.
> >
> > >>'There is no direct scientific connection between mind and matter.'
> > >>Instead they are linked through social and biological patterns.
> > >
> > >STRUAN (continues)
> > >>Call that a solution??? There IS a direct scientific connection
> > >>between mind and matter and to say their isn't flies in the face of
> > >>modern science.
> >
> > I beleive in either Lila or ZAM Pirsig drew a comparison between
> > "mind" and
> > computer software. I don't remember exactly which work of his it was.
> >
> > Lets say our brains and bodies are like computer hardware. Then, mind is
> > like software. A computer program can exist perfectly fine outside of
> > hardware -- it can be printed on paper, stored in a dormant state on a
> > disk drive, remain in a passive state in computer memory, etc. etc. etc.
> >
> > I am not an information theorist (if someone here is, please correct me),
> > but information (software) is essentially a form of energy. On a
> > disk or in
> > memory it is a particular configuration of electrons - a magnetic charge.
> > On paper it is matter -- ink is spilled out in a form that we can
> > recognize as meaningful information. In our brains it is a particular
> > configuration of neural networks, some electrochemical reaction and a
> > resulting flow of electrons. Matter itself is a form of energy
> > (E=mc^2) and
> > vice versa. Please correct me if I am wrong -- I am not a physicist.
> >
> > Following this logic, mind is a form of energy/matter. By the law of
> > conservation of matter and energy it must exist in one form or another
> > _always_. Where do our thoughts go when we die ? Do they disappear ? They
> > can't -- because there is always a constant amount of matter and
> > energy in
> > the universe. Where are our thoughts before we are born ? They must exist
> > somewhere, in one form or another, before we are even born. Our
> > patterns of
> > thought may be predefined by the food our mothers consumed and by the
> > particles they breathed in and by the sunlight they were exposed to while
> > carrying us in their wombs !
> >
> > So, mind is a form of matter following simple, most basic laws of
> > physics.
> > Saying that it isn't, does in fact contradict modern science.
> >
> > Just my two cents from a scientific standpoint (coming from
> > computer science).
> >
> > Regards,
> > Oleg
> >
> > P.S.:
> > Does a computer running software have control over what is going
> > to happen
> > next ? Does it know that I am using it right now to type up an
> > email ? Does
> > a human brain know what it is doing ? Does it have any control over its
> > actions ?
> >
> > "By the Grace of God Almighty and the pressures of the Marketplace, the
> > human race had civilized itself... It's a miracle..." -- R.
> > Waters, "Amused
> > to Death"
> >
> >
> >
> > MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
> > Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
> > MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
> >
> > To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
> > http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
> >
>
>
>
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