[ExI] Wrestling with Embodiment

[natasha at natasha.cc]

   Quoting Anders Sandberg <anders at aleph.se>:

> On 27/01/2012 14:45, Natasha Vita-More wrote:
>> Anders wrote:
>>
>> On 26/01/2012 13:25, Natasha Vita-More wrote:
>>> "I think computational codes are universal, so that any form of
>>> transhuman modification/extension can be seen as modifying the code."
>>>
>>> Are you saying that all perceptual and psychological attributes of the
>> human
>>> body can be negotiated and in doing so, can transform these
>>> molecular/chemical actions and reactions into computer codes?
>
> No, it is not certain they can be determined. While I think computation
> is universal, it is not always possible to get the data necessary to
> copy a computation.

   Right.

   >For example, this happens a lot in quantum
> mechanics due to the No Cloning Theorem. Whether this is relevant for
> mapping the body remains to be seen. I am optimistic that it is fairly
> classical and accessible for measurement, analysis and copying, but I
> recognize this is an assumption I am making.

   Time will tell.

   > (Thanks for telling me that meaning of 'negotiated', I have never heard
> that usage before.)

Sure!  I prefer to use words like "patterns" for "codes" and "process"  
for compuational.

>> "I think the answer is: sometimes.
>> It depends a bit on the project: some domains have much more degrees of
>> freedom and hence depend more on who is doing them and their style of
>> work. But even in very constrained domains there is often space for
>> different choices (what kind of joints in the drawers?), and if there
>> are enough such choice points style will be noticeable."
>>
>> Is the chemistry of the brain and it electrical firings, that sometimes are
>> different (as with Dyslectic and Aspersers) based on choice?
>>
>> I'm not necessarily looking at the outcome, although your bring up an
>> important point.  Maybe the processes don't matter and we should be just
>> focused on the outcome, but I am not convinced.
>
> We are dynamical systems that change the way we work based on our
> decisions. I trivially change my brain chemistry and structure by what
> I eat, what I read, what decisions I make. And these decisions are of
> course based on past ones, and so on. Plus genetics and environment.
>
> In some domains circumstances and logic might force convergent actions
> and convergent brain structure (say training to become a London
> taxidriver). But I suspect a lot of what happens during our life makes
> us ever more different in outlook, function and results. We are born as
> copies and die as originals.

   But it is the process along the way that brings forth our  
individuation in becoming original. That is worth the trek.

   Natasha

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