[ExI] LLM are connecting all terrestrial intelligence

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 22/05/2026 11:53, Jason Resch wrote:
> I believe it is systems and processes that ultimately are the possessors of conscious minds, not physical things or objects. This explains our difficulty in locating conscious minds, or particular sets of neurons involved in a conscious thought. As a process, a conscious mind isn't localizable to any exact position in time or space. It also means that it isn't so easy to dismiss the possibility of colony consciousnesses that don't manifest as singular physical objects. Also note that what we choose to consider as separate physical objects is an entirely arbitrary human distinction, and one not grounded in physical reality.


In essence, I agree, but as always, I think we need to be more careful about the language we use when discussing this.

Systems and processes don't actually possess minds, they comprise minds, which is a different thing. Saying 'possess' implies separation, and reinforces dualistic thinking. We don't say that a sound wave possesses a musical note. It does make sense to say that physical things can possess conscious minds, but not that they are conscious minds. My brain possesses a mind by virtue of executing a process that is that mind.

I don't think it's quite fair to say that 'separate objects' is an entirely arbitrary distinction. There are good reasons why we perceive and classify things as separate, even though everything is connected. The physical reality of different collections of particles doesn't eliminate their differences, and of course it's survival that is the driver for how we perceive the world, so in practical terms there is a genuine physical difference between the river and the road, my head and my hat, etc.

-- 
Ben