[ExI] Coherent vs. Incoherent Fears of Being Uploaded

Stefano Vaj stefano.vaj at gmail.com
Sat Jan 23 17:14:35 UTC 2010


On 22 January 2010 00:33, Stathis Papaioannou <stathisp at gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, but if it were possible to make brain components that function
> like the brain in every way except lacking consciousness, then it
> would be possible to arbitrarily remove any aspect of a persons
> consciousness and they would not realise that anything had changed.

Since no behaviours and functions would be excluded, a "zombie" would
still be speaking with himself as we do (or he would not be a
"perfect" zombie). Thus from all practical points of view he may well
tell himself that he is conscious, and agree with himself on such
conclusion even though he is not.

The paradox lies of course in the fact that "consciousness" abstracted
from the phenomena by which it is manifested is an empty concept, "not
even wrong".

-- 
Stefano Vaj



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