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> I have a gut feeling that there needs to be more to consciousness than a bunch of neurons connected to other neurons. Well, considering the brain is just tha

by burnte 12y ago

> I have a gut feeling that there needs to be more to consciousness than a bunch of neurons connected to other neurons. Well, considering the brain is just that, and consciousness exists in the brain, then at a physical level that's exactly what consciousness is. But like a computer, it requires more than the simple presence of the hardware. That hardware has to be in an active state executing instructions, the mass of neurons has to be firing in a specific pattern, which seems to me self-booting given how we start out. We know consciousness is just a bunch of neurons, the question is how do they work. Just like we know a given chip is capable of various functions, the question is how. Knowing the building is made of steel does not make one capable of recreating a skyscraper.

cpncrunch 12y ago
Let me rephrase (seeing as someone downvoted me). I meant that I have a gut feeling that consciousness isn't simply a group of neurons communicating using electrical impulses, firing in a specific pattern. If that was the case then it would be physically possible to build a computer out of transistors that had consciousness, and that seems unlikely (again, just a gut feeling). If that is the case then some other physics must come into play, and the other other possible physics is quantum mechanics. Anyway, it's obviously very speculative, but I find it interesting thinking about consciousness - it's one of the few things we don't understand. Regarding downvotes: what's the obsession on HN with people downvoting opinions you don't happen to agree with, but are nevertheless logical and coherent?
- burnte 12y ago
  Wherever the ability to downvote exists, people use it as an "I disagree" button. I hate that, and rarely downvote anything anywhere. Here, I do not even have the karma to downvote yet because I comment only when I feel I have something to add. :) As cor consciousness, I'm not convinced we're presently smart enough to understand consciousness. I think there's still new science to be discovered before we understand it.

by burnte 12y ago

cpncrunch 12y ago

Let me rephrase (seeing as someone downvoted me). I meant that I have a gut feeling that consciousness isn't simply a group of neurons communicating using electrical impulses, firing in a specific pattern. If that was the case then it would be physically possible to build a computer out of transistors that had consciousness, and that seems unlikely (again, just a gut feeling). If that is the case then some other physics must come into play, and the other other possible physics is quantum mechanics. Anyway, it's obviously very speculative, but I find it interesting thinking about consciousness - it's one of the few things we don't understand. Regarding downvotes: what's the obsession on HN with people downvoting opinions you don't happen to agree with, but are nevertheless logical and coherent?

burnte 12y ago
Wherever the ability to downvote exists, people use it as an "I disagree" button. I hate that, and rarely downvote anything anywhere. Here, I do not even have the karma to downvote yet because I comment only when I feel I have something to add. :) As cor consciousness, I'm not convinced we're presently smart enough to understand consciousness. I think there's still new science to be discovered before we understand it.