• Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views




    Results 1 to 25 of 179
    Like Tree18Likes

    Thread: How are we not a computer?

    Hybrid View

    1. #1
      Xei
      UnitedKingdom Xei is offline
      Banned
      Join Date
      Aug 2005
      Posts
      9,984
      Likes
      3084
      You missed the entire point of my post.

      I didn't say anything about McFadden's interpretation of consciousness. I believe that phenomenon is much more complex and holistic than anyone seems to be willing to admit. The entire reason why I cited that article was to show his experimental evidence that shows a correlation between the electromagnetic field and the firing of neurons. If you'd like, I can link you to several other articles that describe experiments using electromagnetic fields to stimulate mice brains, which even show an increase in growth.
      Um, I did address that specifically, alongside the philosophy..?

      No neuroscientist takes this field theory seriously. There is clear experimental evidence against, which I provided (external electromagnetic fields don't impair cognitive function).

      You're conflating the issue of the basis of neural function with physiology.
      You seem to think that simulating the essential functions of the brain is the same as emulating them. You have no evidence for that and yet you make it sound like it is common sense. Serial processors can simulate parallel processing but it doesn't accomplish the same thing. The brain does not operate with logic gates, it operates with system wide patterns of activity. The processes in which computers and neural nets work are completely different. Breaking the systems down into some subjective view of their functions does not make them the same.
      As far as I see it the onus is on you to show why a collection of water, fat, proteins, ions etcetera can perform cognitive functions whilst silicon atoms and electrons cannot. You've once again started telling me how transistors aren't like neurons so once again I'm going to have to tell you that I've never claimed that, and refer you to SnakeCharmer.

    2. #2
      Drivel's Advocate Xaqaria's Avatar
      Join Date
      May 2007
      LD Count
      WhoIsJohnGalt?
      Gender
      Location
      Denver, CO Catchphrase: BullCockie!
      Posts
      5,589
      Likes
      930
      DJ Entries
      9
      Quote Originally Posted by Xei View Post
      You're conflating the issue of the basis of neural function with physiology.
      As far as I see it the onus is on you to show why a collection of water, fat, proteins, ions etcetera can perform cognitive functions whilst silicon atoms and electrons cannot. You've once again started telling me how transistors aren't like neurons so once again I'm going to have to tell you that I've never claimed that, and refer you to SnakeCharmer.
      Are you equating a human being with cognitive functions? Are you merely your thoughts?

      The ability to happily respond to any adversity is the divine.
      Art
      Dream Journal Shaman Apprentice Chronicles

    3. #3
      Miss Sixy <span class='glow_FFFFFF'>Maria92</span>'s Avatar
      Join Date
      Sep 2009
      LD Count
      Mortal Mist
      Gender
      Location
      Seiren
      Posts
      5,003
      Likes
      1409
      DJ Entries
      82
      Quote Originally Posted by Xaqaria View Post
      Are you equating a human being with cognitive functions? Are you merely your thoughts?
      Yeah, basically. Without your thoughts, you are meat with eyes. So, we are pretty much only our thoughts and this slab of meat they are attached to.

      Click the sig for my Dream Journal
      444 Dreams Recalled
      13 Lucid Dreams

    4. #4
      widdershins modality Achievements:
      1 year registered Created Dream Journal Made lots of Friends on DV Veteran First Class Tagger First Class Referrer Bronze 10000 Hall Points
      Taosaur's Avatar
      Join Date
      Jul 2004
      Gender
      Location
      Ohiopolis
      Posts
      4,843
      Likes
      1004
      DJ Entries
      19
      Quote Originally Posted by Xei View Post
      You're conflating the issue of the basis of neural function with physiology.
      As far as I see it the onus is on you to show why a collection of water, fat, proteins, ions etcetera can perform cognitive functions whilst silicon atoms and electrons cannot. You've once again started telling me how transistors aren't like neurons so once again I'm going to have to tell you that I've never claimed that, and refer you to SnakeCharmer.
      ...the onus of proof generally falls on those making extraordinary claims. You claim that systems bearing little or no resemblance to the only system known to exhibit consciousness (a human being), nevertheless must be able to exhibit consciousness despite their never having done so over a couple generations of humans trying to make it happen. You can proclaim they just aren't big enough or haven't been programmed right, but that's an unfalsifiable claim unless you can provide a rational model for what scale of resources would produce consciousness in a binary math machine. Xaq and I are merely pointing out that computers don't replicate the full spectrum of activity in the human brain, much less in a human being.

      Originally Posted by Mario92
      If you want to get really technical, humans have no free will at all. We like to think we do, and for now, we are superior to computers in that our thought processes mimic free will much better, but ultimately, the ions jumping the synapses between neurons in the brain were placed there through billions of years of chain reactions. The big bang ultimately set everything in motion. Why do you think? Because a certain set of neurons connected in the right way. Why does life exist? Because a set of atoms and molecules arranged themselves into an organized mass of compounds. (Crudely put, but you get my point.) So, we are similar to computers, but our range of thoughts and emotions are far deeper and more advanced than those of modern computers. Give scientists, programmers, and mathematicians a few decades to catch up, and this will change.
      This kind of hard-line determinism is absurd. It's Creationism minus the Creator. The only events that are absolutely determined are those that have already happened. Beyond that, the physicists are still (or we might say, once again) arguing among themselves.
      If you have a sense of caring for others, you will manifest a kind of inner strength in spite of your own difficulties and problems. With this strength, your own problems will seem less significant and bothersome to you. By going beyond your own problems and taking care of others, you gain inner strength, self-confidence, courage, and a greater sense of calm.Dalai Lama



    5. #5
      Miss Sixy <span class='glow_FFFFFF'>Maria92</span>'s Avatar
      Join Date
      Sep 2009
      LD Count
      Mortal Mist
      Gender
      Location
      Seiren
      Posts
      5,003
      Likes
      1409
      DJ Entries
      82
      Quote Originally Posted by Taosaur View Post
      This kind of hard-line determinism is absurd. It's Creationism minus the Creator. The only events that are absolutely determined are those that have already happened. Beyond that, the physicists are still (or we might say, once again) arguing among themselves.
      How do you figure that this is "absurd?" Your thoughts and impulses are derived from the brain. More specifically, they are caused by ions jumping the synapse between two neurons. These ions get the "message" to jump the gap through a process of cell interactions and processes. Cell processes can be broken down smaller and smaller, until you are essentially left with simple organic compounds moving about. What causes these compounds to move about? Whatever they interacted with last set them on their present course. Well, what did they interact with, and how did that get there in the first place? It interacted with something else...and so on and so forth. You cannot "control" what neurons fire and when. When you make a decision, it is because of a chain reaction between atoms, molecules, and particles. You do not spontaneously lend energy to the ions, or create messages. It is beyond your control.

      Click the sig for my Dream Journal
      444 Dreams Recalled
      13 Lucid Dreams

    6. #6
      widdershins modality Achievements:
      1 year registered Created Dream Journal Made lots of Friends on DV Veteran First Class Tagger First Class Referrer Bronze 10000 Hall Points
      Taosaur's Avatar
      Join Date
      Jul 2004
      Gender
      Location
      Ohiopolis
      Posts
      4,843
      Likes
      1004
      DJ Entries
      19
      Quote Originally Posted by Mario92 View Post
      How do you figure that this is "absurd?" Your thoughts and impulses are derived from the brain. More specifically, they are caused by ions jumping the synapse between two neurons. These ions get the "message" to jump the gap through a process of cell interactions and processes. Cell processes can be broken down smaller and smaller, until you are essentially left with simple organic compounds moving about. What causes these compounds to move about? Whatever they interacted with last set them on their present course. Well, what did they interact with, and how did that get there in the first place? It interacted with something else...and so on and so forth. You cannot "control" what neurons fire and when. When you make a decision, it is because of a chain reaction between atoms, molecules, and particles. You do not spontaneously lend energy to the ions, or create messages. It is beyond your control.
      And when the chain reactions occur among particles, it is because you made a decision. The two are simultaneous and synonymous, the system influencing the state of the particles and the particles influencing the state of the system. The outcome is not determined until it is past. The present is by definition the unfixed event horizon of our causal continuum, in which all that exists operates interdependently, including us and all our constituent parts.
      If you have a sense of caring for others, you will manifest a kind of inner strength in spite of your own difficulties and problems. With this strength, your own problems will seem less significant and bothersome to you. By going beyond your own problems and taking care of others, you gain inner strength, self-confidence, courage, and a greater sense of calm.Dalai Lama



    7. #7
      Miss Sixy <span class='glow_FFFFFF'>Maria92</span>'s Avatar
      Join Date
      Sep 2009
      LD Count
      Mortal Mist
      Gender
      Location
      Seiren
      Posts
      5,003
      Likes
      1409
      DJ Entries
      82
      Quote Originally Posted by Taosaur View Post
      And when the chain reactions occur among particles, it is because you made a decision. The two are simultaneous and synonymous, the system influencing the state of the particles and the particles influencing the state of the system. The outcome is not determined until it is past. The present is by definition the unfixed event horizon of our causal continuum, in which all that exists operates interdependently, including us and all our constituent parts.
      Ah, but also take note, that particles will take the most likely path at an incredible percentage, and the likeliness of the unlikely happening is slim at best.

      Also, how do you make a decision? You think. You use your brain, which operates on chemo-electric impulses...nothing more than matter and energy. The matter is on a fixed course, set there by reactions with other bits of matter and transference of energy, which likewise reacted with other matter and other energy in the past. When we "make a decision" or "reach a conclusion," it is because a specific set of neurons reacted in such a way as to "decide" or create the illusion of "decision." Without the brain, there would be no deciding, no conclusion-reaching. Your brain is matter and energy; nothing more. It follows the same principles as the rest of the universe. Being that it is matter and energy, it is extremely unlikely to alter its present state or simultaneously veer from its present course unless acted upon by an outside force. "Decision making" is no such outside force.

      Click the sig for my Dream Journal
      444 Dreams Recalled
      13 Lucid Dreams

    8. #8
      Dismember Achievements:
      1000 Hall Points Veteran First Class
      SnakeCharmer's Avatar
      Join Date
      Mar 2009
      Gender
      Location
      The river
      Posts
      245
      Likes
      41
      Quote Originally Posted by Xei View Post
      You've once again started telling me how transistors aren't like neurons so once again I'm going to have to tell you that I've never claimed that, and refer you to SnakeCharmer.
      I'm not trying to say that transistors are like neurons. I'm trying to say that you don't need transistors to compute. The point is that the idea of computers has nothing to do with those plastic and metal boxes sitting on our desks.

      A biological system is a computer. Our behavior on every level (molecular, cellular, macroscopic) is the result of computations being performed inside our cells and brain.
      I hope this post cleared up my position on this topic.

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •