Re: virus: kurzweil cuts the mustard
sodom (Sodom@ma.ultranet.com)
Wed, 30 Dec 1998 17:57:10 -0500
Did I say believe? ummm no. I am convinced that you are a human based only upon
your word. For all I know you could be Prof Tim in disguise, or a sophisticated
program. I choose to think of you as my equal because you display unique
perspective to me (as every conscious entity I met has). Right now you think of
me as most likley as Human. And in your experience humans are conscious. If you
were to find out now that I were a machine, I am willing to bet that instead of
granting me consciousness, you would change your mind about me and I would be
less than conscious all of a sudden. This is a type of understandable bigotry on
your part (I dont mean to offend). You cant even consider the notion that a
conscious machine can exist - yet you believe in a God and the Spiritual nature
of humankind - and there is a lot less evidence to support either of those
issues and a growing scientific database to refute those claims.
What I am saying is that - When the evidence is more in favor than against, Ill
grant consciousness.
Bill Roh
Robin Faichney wrote:
> In message <36892466.5587A860@ma.ultranet.com>, sodom
> <Sodom@ma.ultranet.com> writes
> >I see no reason not to consider a machine
> >that makes that claim convincingly to be an equal conscious being to myself
> >- regardless of the creator. The same goes for a Dog or a Dolphin. The
> >moment I am convinced that they are sentient (and at this stage i hold no
> >thought to as which is more likely)
>
> You mean that when you believe it, you'll believe it? :-)
> --
> Robin