BBC – Future – Technology – Is it OK to torture or murder a robot?

In the discussion on my post on computer consciousness from the other day, my friend amanimal just provided the following link: BBC - Future - Technology - Is it OK to torture or murder a robot?. I think this powerfully corroborates my thesis in that post, but it also illustrates that I might have been … Continue reading BBC – Future – Technology – Is it OK to torture or murder a robot? →

Quote for the Day – Einstein’s Louse and the Limits of Scientific Understanding

Rachel Williams's avatarMinds and Brains

Nature is showing us only the tail of the lion, but I have no doubt that the lion belongs to it even though, because of its large size, it cannot totally reveal itself all at once. We can see it only the way a louse that is sitting on it would.

 ~Albert Einstein to Heinrich Zangger, quoted in Clifford Pickover, Archimedes to Hawking

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Comet ISON and our lack of fear

Lots of people are excited about comet ISON and the spectacular show it will hopefully provide.  However, unlike most people throughout history, most of us do not regard it as an evil omen, an attack from an angry god, or fear it for any other reason.  There's a reason this.  Science! Aristotle thought that comets … Continue reading Comet ISON and our lack of fear →

More on computer consciousness

After discussion on my post the other day on consciousness being in the eye beholder, I realized that I probably should expand a bit on my hypothesis about what we would intuitively consider to be a conscious being. We, as minds, are aware.  We have awareness from our senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.  From the … Continue reading More on computer consciousness →

Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang

Ethan Siegel's blog, Starts With a Bang, is one of the best science astrophysics blogs on the web. Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang. In this post, he tackles an issue I often see a lot of confusion over, even from science reporters.  When talking about extreme … Continue reading Ask Ethan #12: How far is the distant Universe? – Starts With A Bang →

The struggling space age

The Washington Post has an interesting summary of the state of the space industry, contrasting the "New Space", private companies, with "Old Space", Nasa.  The article is interlaced with interesting photos and is well worth the time investment.  Another article on NBC talks about the White House's new space transportation policy. I'm a space enthusiast. … Continue reading The struggling space age →

Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future

On HuffPost: Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future. On the one hand, I take heart that the creationists always seem to lose these fights.  On the other, we shouldn't be having to have the fights in the 21st century in a modern industrialized society. If you are a creationist, you … Continue reading Bill Nye: Debate Over Evolution In Texas Schools Is Jeopardizing Our Future →