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I think the only property humans consider special in themselves are emotions. I have the following thesis. In evolution, exact pattern matching is computational

I think the only property humans consider special in themselves are emotions. I have the following thesis. In evolution, exact pattern matching is computationally expensive. Just as I know my mother regardless of her clothes, hairstyle, her aging face, the match isn't exact. But brain uses heuristics to pump up 89 percent match to 100 percent match. This saves computational resources. These heuristics are what we call emotions. When snake like object appears in visual field, emotional heuristic pumps up slight resemblance to generate fear response. Analytical observation would take too much time. That's why emotions appear pre rational. Capgras syndrome shows when emotional heuristic malfunctions. Visual recognition is intact. But emotional heuristic which pumps up recognition score malfunctions. That's why patient recognises face but feels it's an imposter. These arguments prove emotions are mere computational shortcuts.

goatlover 2y ago
How do you explain the visual field? EM radiation isn't colored in the range visible to humans, that's just how we see it. There are no physical colored properties, rather there are wavelengths. But there are color experiences. Same goes for the other sensations. You don't need to go as far as emotions. Sensation alone is hard to explain in physical terms. Computation doesn't explain it either. Color values are just numeric properties we assign to the shades of our color experiences. But they aren't the experiences, they're just numeric values or symbols to be stored for something that can output wavelengths of light.
staticman2 2y ago
There is no analytical, rational reason to avoid being killed by a snake. Continuing to live has no analytical or rational purpose. The only reason "avoid dangerous things like snakes so I continue to live" is a goal is emotions.
- nthingtohide 2y ago
  Think about it this way. We have System1 and System2. Emotions reside in System1. Now imagine we have build AI systems which are so fast they can compute complex heuristics of System2 at the speed of System1. Then AI's emotions will be more rational.
  - staticman2 2y ago
    System 1 and system 2 are metaphors not actual systems. Emotions do not only exist in the not actually a real thing system 1. People who take damage to the emotional centers of their brains become passive and apathetic not hyper intelligent system 2 Vulcans.

goatlover 2y ago

How do you explain the visual field? EM radiation isn't colored in the range visible to humans, that's just how we see it. There are no physical colored properties, rather there are wavelengths. But there are color experiences. Same goes for the other sensations. You don't need to go as far as emotions. Sensation alone is hard to explain in physical terms. Computation doesn't explain it either. Color values are just numeric properties we assign to the shades of our color experiences. But they aren't the experiences, they're just numeric values or symbols to be stored for something that can output wavelengths of light.

staticman2 2y ago

There is no analytical, rational reason to avoid being killed by a snake. Continuing to live has no analytical or rational purpose. The only reason "avoid dangerous things like snakes so I continue to live" is a goal is emotions.

nthingtohide 2y ago
Think about it this way. We have System1 and System2. Emotions reside in System1. Now imagine we have build AI systems which are so fast they can compute complex heuristics of System2 at the speed of System1. Then AI's emotions will be more rational.
- staticman2 2y ago
  System 1 and system 2 are metaphors not actual systems. Emotions do not only exist in the not actually a real thing system 1. People who take damage to the emotional centers of their brains become passive and apathetic not hyper intelligent system 2 Vulcans.