[ExI] Digital Consciousness .

[Gordon]

Hello old friend Stathis. You understand me on this subject probably better than anyone here. We discussed these issues at length back some 4-5 years ago. I think I am experiencing deja vu. 

Stathis Papaioannou <stathisp at gmail.com> wrote:


> That's where you're wrong. If we could simulate a brain we could

simulate part of a brain. We could replace your visual cortex with an
artificial visual cortex, for example, that reproduces the I/O
behaviour of your biological cortex. If the I/O behaviour is
reproduced, than the rest of your brain will behave normally as it
receives the same inputs.<

Granted, it does seem possible to create simulated digital sensory inputs to the mind/brain, as in your example of an artificial visual cortex.. But then we can also wear sunglasses to change our visual inputs. Are we supposed to think sunglasses are conscious? 

What if I implanted a physical calculator in my head to do math for me? I could hook it up to all the right "math willing" neurons to do the job for me. I'm pretty sure the calculator would give me the right answers, but that I would have nothing to do with the calculations. It would not be much different from holding the calculator in my hand, except that I would be pushing the buttons with my thoughts alone.


-Gordon
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