[ExI] A paper that actually does solve the problem of consciousness

Emlyn emlynoregan at gmail.com
Mon Nov 17 03:13:57 UTC 2008


2008/11/15 Richard Loosemore <rpwl at lightlink.com>:
>
> I completed the first draft of a technical paper on consciousness the other
> day.   It is intended for the AGI-09 conference, and it can be found at:
>
> http://susaro.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/draft_consciousness_rpwl.pdf
>
> The title is "Consciousness in Human and Machine: A Theory and Some
> Falsifiable Predictions", and it does solve the problem, believe it or not.
>
> But I have no illusions:  it will be misunderstood, at the very least. I
> expect there will be plenty of people who argue that it does not solve the
> problem, but I don't really care, because I think history will eventually
> show that this is indeed the right answer.  It gives a satisfying answer to
> all the outstanding questions and it feels right.
>
> Oh, and it does make some testable predictions.  Alas, we do not yet have
> the technology to perform the tests yet, but the predictions are on the
> table, anyhow.
>
> In a longer version I would go into a lot more detail, introducing  the
> background material at more length, analyzing the other proposals that have
> been made and fleshing out the technical aspects along several dimensions.
>  But the size limit for the conference was 6 pages, so that was all I could
> cram in.
>
>
>
>
> Richard Loosemore
>
>
> P.S.  Yes, I know: everyone and their mother has a theory of consciousness
> these days.  But, believe me, I wouldn't dare to join that (mostly confused
> and disreputable) crowd unless I really thought that this paper actually
> *did* solve the problem.

A new approach as far as I know, and thought provoking. Thanks for
posting it. I don't think I can say much about it yet, it'll need
digesting; I think there are subtle points in there that will take
time to grok.

I still want to say "but it doesn't explain this experience of
subjective being", but I know you address that, and I will restrain
myself for the moment :-)

-- 
Emlyn

http://emlynoregan.com - my home
http://point7.wordpress.com - downshifting and ranting
http://speakingoffreedom.blogspot.com - video link feed of great talks
on eCulture



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