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<p>Brent Allsop wrote:<br>
</p>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:mailman.187.1578955504.13152.extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">
<div>We only use a simplified version of the easiest theory to
falsify, "elemental qualia are molecular material qualities," is
to better help people understand what it means to be qualia
blind.<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Well, I still have no real clue what you mean by 'qualia blind',
even after falsifying your theory.<br>
</p>
<p>It can't mean being blind to qualia, because that's not possible,
assuming the word 'qualia' has the commonly-accepted meaning of
"subjective experiences".</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:mailman.187.1578955504.13152.extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">
<div>Also, congratulations. You've come up with some great
arguments some of which are not consistent with glutamate being
redness.<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>I think I've done more than that. I've falsified the theory,
wouldn't you say?<br>
</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm very glad to hear it, and look forward to you not
talking about glutamate (or any other substance) somehow being
redness any more.</p>
<p>Perhaps you can now start thinking about what it <i>could</i>
be, if it's not molecules.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:mailman.187.1578955504.13152.extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">
<div>You just need any working hypothesis of what could be
redness. What we are describing is the technique to falsify
that, or any other theory. The important thing is describing a
non qualia blind method for experimentalists to use, to falsify
such theories.<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div>Well, you could do worse than read what neurologists have to
say about how the brain works.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Here is a hypothesis that is at least theoretically testable:
The experience of redness is accompanied by the presence of
certain neural circuits in parts of the visual cortex. (in V8, in
the occipital lobe), and that temporarily knocking out these
circuits (via local electrodes, or a drug, or some other means)
would prevent the perception of redness (as well as all other
colours, quite possibly).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div> If this was done precisely enough, it would at least
demonstrate that the perception of colour was dependent on these
circuits. If some kind of neural interface was developed that
could link to precise sets of neurons, you could maybe even
pinpoint circuits that only affect the perception of a specific
hue and saturation of redness and not other colours. With enough
investigation of this kind, you could probably even tease out the
entire route of a large neural circuit that travels round the
visual areas, the thalamus and other parts of the brain, and be
able to say "this circuit here, is redness (Hue 0, Sat 67%)
(Strawberry, as it happens). If interrupting or disrupting that
circuit removes that specific redness quale (such that the subject
would report that they can't see it, and tests could verify that),
then you've pinned it down. You now know what that quale actually
is.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>In case you wondered where the 'Lightness' component went, I
think it will be conveyed by the frequency of the spikes in the
circuit, but again, that's something that could be experimentally
verified.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I say that this is theoretically testable. It may require
uploading-level technology to actually be able to test it, as the
'circuits' I'm talking about are unlikely to be simple loops or
patterns like you'd see on an electronic circuit board. They are
probably very complex, with many branches and loops. Probably the
term 'network' is more appropriate than 'circuits'.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Ben Zaiboc<br>
</div>
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