[ExI] Answering the Hard Problem, with applications to AI Consciousness

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 11/09/2026 20:35, Keith Henson wrote:
> I completely agree with John on these points.
>
> I also happen to think this is not a useful topic.


I disagree (about it not being useful).

Not only for the reasons that Jason has already stated, but also because it relates to arguments about the existence of things like supernatural phenomena, like souls, gods, etc. If the ideas that Jason and John are raising are true (I too think they are, in fact I think they must be, mainly because if they aren't, then the whole edifice of science must be wrong, and that seems extremely unlikely, given the track record of science compared with religion and other supernatural/superstitious ways of looking at the world), then it impacts on things such as how we should view artificial intelligences (and, as John never tires of pointing out (that's not a criticism), other people), uploading and our attitude towards our own place in the world. I've already stated my position on the matter, but many people think that if we (i.e. biological humans) don't survive, then it doesn't matter what else does, regardless of how intelligent it might be. I think this stems from ignorance about what we actually are, and that's what this topic is all about.
-- 
Ben