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Can we even refute that a rock is conscious? That philosophical zombies are possible? Does consciousness have any experimental basis beyond that we all say we f
by Jeff_Brown 4y ago
Can we even refute that a rock is conscious? That philosophical zombies are possible? Does consciousness have any experimental basis beyond that we all say we feel it?
- coldtea 4y ago>Can we even refute that a rock is conscious? Yes, unless we stretch the definition of conscious most people use beyond recognition. At that point, though, it will be so remote from what we use the term for, that it could just be any random term, like doskoulard! "Can we even refute that a rock is doskoulard?"
- Jeff_Brown 4y agoWhat definition would that be? What falsifiable definition of consciousness is even possible?
- coldtea 4y agoLet's go with the dictionary one for starters: "the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings.". The rock is neither "aware" nor "responsive". It just stands there. It's a non-reactive set of minerals, lacking not just any capacity to react, but also life. Though that's overthinking it. Sometimes you don't need decicated testing equipment to know something, just common sense.
- Jeff_Brown 4y agoConsciousness and responsiveness are orthogonal. Your dictionary would define the locked-in victims of apparently vegetative states as nonconscious. They are not. Common sense is valuable, but it has a mixed scientific track record.
- coldtea 4y ago>Your dictionary would define the locked-in victims of apparently vegetative states as nonconscious You can always find small exceptions to everything. But you know what I mean. Except if your point is that, like the vegetative victims, the rock's brain is still alive.
- scubakid 4y agoAckchyually, this is bigoted against all the electrons inside that rock. Subatomic particles deserve rights too! /s
- nottaRealname 4y agoAny definition for anything is tautologically true if you ignore exceptions