Related to the last post, someone asked me where I got the information on the brain that I discussed there. After answering, it occurred to me that other people might be interested. First, let me say that the examples I gave in that post about brain module functionality were not speculative. They are well established … Continue reading Books on neuroscience
Discovering the architecture of the mind
I've written numerous times here that I tend to think that AGI (artificial general intelligence) and mind uploading are both ultimately possible. (Possibly centuries in the future, but possible.) I've also noted that we'll have to have a working understanding of the mind, how it works, how it is structured, before we can do either, … Continue reading Discovering the architecture of the mind
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today in the US is Thanksgiving Day. If you're somewhere where this is being celebrated, I hope you have a great holiday. If you're somewhere where it's not being celebrated, have a great Thursday. As someone who isn't inclined to gratitude toward an apparently uncaring universe, my thanks tend to go to friends, family, and colleagues … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving!
The Expanse: Intelligent space opera you should check out
Last night, I watched the pilot episode to the new science fiction TV series, 'The Expanse'. It's based on a series of novels by a writing team that goes by the pseudonym James S.A. Corey, the first of which I reviewed a while back. I've read all the books in the series and enjoyed them … Continue reading The Expanse: Intelligent space opera you should check out
The odd animosity toward ebooks
Someone called my attention to an Aeon article by Craig Mod describing his abandonment of digital books, returning to the traditional paper variety. From 2009 to 2013, every book I read, I read on a screen. And then I stopped. You could call my four years of devout screen‑reading an experiment. I felt a duty … Continue reading The odd animosity toward ebooks
David Eagleman: Can a computer simulate a brain?
The other day, I highlighted the article by neuroscientist Kenneth Miller on the possibility of mind uploading. Miller saw it as possible, but thought it might be thousands or maybe even millions of years before we could do it. Here's a take by another neuroscientist, David Eagleman, being a bit more optimistic, and discussing the … Continue reading David Eagleman: Can a computer simulate a brain?
Why I think we will eventually have a scientific understanding of consciousness
It's a common sentiment, even among many staunch materialists, that we will never understand consciousness. It's one I held to some degree until a few years ago. But the more I've read about neuroscience, the more convinced I've become that we will eventually understand it, at least at an objective level. That's actually an important distinction to make … Continue reading Why I think we will eventually have a scientific understanding of consciousness
SMBC: The universality of mathematics, but not notation
This is pretty good, and it will exercise your mind for a minute. Source: Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal The distinction between mathematical notation and its underlying reality is a crucial one. The first is an invention of humans, the second is universal. In fact, I've increasingly become convinced that the second actually is the universe, … Continue reading SMBC: The universality of mathematics, but not notation
Why alien life will probably be engineered life
Martin Rees has an interesting article at Nautilus: When We Find Aliens, We Might Find Something Like the Borg This September, a team of astronomers noticed that the light from a distant star is flickering in a highly irregular pattern.1 They considered the possibility that comets, debris, and impacts could account for their observations, but each of … Continue reading Why alien life will probably be engineered life
SMBC: Chinese room
I love this SMBC on the Chinese room thought experiment. Click through for full sized version and the red caption button. Source: Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal My regular readers know I'm not a big fan of the Chinese room thought experiment. I think it only confirms whatever intuitions you already have. If you think intelligence … Continue reading SMBC: Chinese room
SelfAwarePatterns 