I think this would be a much more interesting study if they didn't include the tags at the bottom of each description. Let's see how many Buddhists are really Buddhists! I know that none of the choices is perfect, but I chose 3- one based on Information Theory, one based on Physics, and one based on Personal Beliefs. Figured that doubling down on any of those would be kinda silly.
I don't see something that I wholly agree with there. Emergent Dualism is probably the closest thing to my own best guess. Personally, I can't imagine any kind of decision making without consciousness. Yes, that does include computers, ants, etc. I see consciousness as a measure of something that exists on a gradient, and not as a discrete phenomenon. There are less complex consciousnesses than ours, and I would be surprised if there weren't more complex ones. As for our own experience of our won consciousness, IMO that is internal modeling.
Emergent Dualism appeals to me as well. Part of me thinks Quantum Consciousness could be right as well. We don't know enough about the quantum world to rule it out, and I think we won't create "spiritual machines" until we start creating computer models of the brain at the quantum level.
I always look at the quantum argument with some bafflement. We don't understand a lot of things that I don't theorize to be in the brain. We don't understand Quasars, but I wouldn't bet that they're intimately tied to the brain's functionality! It's different, but not much different.
I'm skeptical of the use of the word "quantum" in front of anything to explain any phenomenon we don't fully understand yet. Maybe it's Deepak Chopra's fault but whenever someone refers to the idea of quantum consciousness or anything of that nature it makes me want to ask them, exactly what does the Q-word add to your understanding?
I was just trying to make the point that if AI do become conscious, it will likely be with quantum computing. Therefore, it is possible that there is some quantum effect in our brains that we can't currently detect. I'm not saying it is the most convincing hypothesis, but we can't rule it out.
I haven't seen any compelling evidence that quantum computing will move AI along more than any other field. What makes you think that?
Many futurists estimate that AI will reach and surpass human levels between 2025-2035. All computing will be quantum at this time period if current trends hold. Therefore, I would hypothesize that something a the quantum scale of computing could cause consciousness. However, it is also possible that AI never becomes conscious, or it may be possible that consciousness is an emergent property of complexity. I don't think anyone has the definitive answer at the moment.
Well, a few things. First of all the AI community's not great at these estimations (third paragraph down). Secondly, those predictions aren't founded primarily on the idea of quantum computing (which will change everything, obviously) but on the basis of hitting or coming close to the Singularity. This is based on making a machine (or software) which can create a better machine (or software).
Definitely no one has a definitive answer about what makes consciousness, and similarly, no one has a definitive goal for AI. Because no one knows what they're aiming at, I tend to be pretty skeptical about predictions of how/when they're going to get there. And even still, equating quantum computing and the brain might be a huge mistake- there is definitely no evidence that our brains use quantum computing.
That's my problem with it. I don't think there is a critical point at which 'dualism' is reached. I cannot imagine a choice made without action without a degree of consciousness. Consciousness can be mundane, less mundane, or quite complex, but it's all cosciousness. IiB said I am an Emergent Dualist Behavioralist, which sounds ridiculous to me. Looking forward to that post, btw.
That's hilarious. Should make for a good discussion on sunday.
I feel that a lot of what Douglas Hofstadter said in his book I am a Strange Loop rings true to me. I don't know what category that would fit into. I've done some thinking of my own and wrote a four/five page outline of my thoughts on consciousness. I'd be happy to upload it to hubski if anyone's interested.
Note that most of what's in the outline are not my ideas, just a compilation of ideas that make sense and resonate to me Though I could certainly elaborate, I've learned a lot about the subject since I wrote the outline back in the summer. I'll revise it before I upload it.
Apparently, if I think the question is asking me "what do brains do?" I'm a functionalistic emergent dualistic cognitivist. But, if I think the question is asking me "what does the psyche do?" I'm a pan psychic epiphenomenalistic buddhist. Who would have thought? Did anyone else notice how similar some of the theories sound? For instance, what's the difference between emergent dualism and cognitivism, and what's the difference between property dualism and pan psychism?
I picked Identity Theory, although I don't seem to recall calling it that in Philosophy 101. I've probably been indoctrinated by the youngest of the Four Horsemen of the Counter-Apocalypse, Sam Harris, and all of his talks about the brain. However, after seeing *The Secret Life of Chaos* I started changing my views more towards what mk said, Emergent Dualism WITH chaos at play in the brain.
Apparently I'm a functionalist identity-theorizing Buddhist. -- but it was more of an "ok, if I had to choose something" situation. What a challenging set of definitions. Like mk, I can't say I totally agree with any, nor can I come up with my own definition -- but I think I will try. I have seen many brain scans related to thought processes, so brain functions do seem to be physical events. What else???