[extropy-chat] Qualia Bet.

[Eugen Leitl]

On Thu, Nov 24, 2005 at 08:27:37PM -0500, gts wrote:

> >But it can't observe itself making that measurement.
> 
> Right, that would require self-awareness. I'm not suggesting molecules are  
> self-aware, just aware.

You've just redefined "aware". Even the measurement part
is a stretch: a molecule is a single detector at best.
 
> Robotic insects already exist. I wonder if they are in any fundamental way  
> different from real insects. Other than the difference in materials, and  

Statues of people exist. I wonder if they are in any fundamental way
different from real people.

> the ability to mate and reproduce, aren't they basically the same as real  
> insects? If not, exactly how are they different?

An insect has to survive and reproduce in a hostile environment, sensing
multichannel input and making choices. Mechanical insects are to real
thing is roughly what 18th century androids are to real people.
AI people are having a hard time even reproducing isolated insect skills,
and the footprint and power requirements to do so are a fair cry of
mm^3 and microwatts of insects.
 
> To me insects look like little flying cameras.

You're obviously no biologist. You need way more bits to describe
an insect than a camera obscura.

-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a>
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