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>> If we replaced every neuron in your brain, one by one, with a silicon equivalent, would you stop being conscious? If we put your brain in a jar, would you b
by georgeecollins 2mo ago
>> If we replaced every neuron in your brain, one by one, with a silicon equivalent, would you stop being conscious?
If we put your brain in a jar, would you be a person? Would you have normal consciousness? Honestly I don't know and I am not the person to ask.
But the brain is just a computer metaphor has flaws, particularly when you take account how poorly the brain is understood.
- StevenWaterman 2mo agoYeah absolutely, I have no objections to you looking at my thought experiments and saying "No, if you replaced every neuron with silicon I would stop being conscious". That's a totally valid conclusion and is a mainstream philosophical position. That's why they're thought experiments. My issue was more just that people see the concept of a thinking machine and immediately reject it because it sounds silly, without thinking about it.
- My_Name 2mo agoIt has been claimed in the past that computers would never think "because they are made of matter" It was a serious statement at the time it was made, but it is clearly ludicrous. Like the universe created special states for arranging energy in just to make the human brain from.
- My_Name 2mo ago>>If we put your brain in a jar, would you be a person? This is very close to the question : Would you still be a person if your arms and legs were amputated, and you could not communicate. I would hope you would see that the answer is : Of course you would be