Seeing red

[bennyboy]

I already gave you a definition but you seem determined to simply draw this into an argument about semantics.

Okay, I'm not trying to make a semantic argument. However, since I'm now looking for a physicalist perspective on mind, and since people are using non-physical words like "information" or "intent," I want to make sure what you mean.

Intention is what a system has when it represents an isomorphism of the environment and acts on that isomorphism to further its interests in its environment.  A galaxy doesn't form an isomorphic representation nor act on that representation.

What interests? Why does a given physical system have interests, and what about having them magically makes it experience qualia?

Or perhaps we're talking about how dog-like human structures are.  Or how robotic-like certain dog structures are.  What makes you think this is a response to your post about supervenience?  It's not.  But if you ask me I will answer.  Mind doesn't 'supervene' on mere matter of any configuration.  Mind is a representational system like that of the robots.  The human representational system is capable of greater flexibility and complexity, but this is a difference in degree, not kind.

Okay, what is it about the universe that, if certain kinds of information or processing is there, causes qualia to exist-- when there is nothing like this in "matter of any configuration"?

I'm really trying to see a purely physical perspective here, but I keep hearing about things which are immaterial, or at least non-concrete, and which are ambiguous or not clearly defined except in terms of arbitrary assessments.

Again with the dragging the conversation back to petty points.  I never pointed to "information processing" as an indicator of mind.

You aren't the only person in this thread, but I will try in future to address replies only to you and not including what I'm talking about with others.

 I pointed to representational systems as indicator of mind.  And by representational system, I don't mean just the robot itself or its computer.  By representational system I mean the entire set of the feedback loop which includes the sensors, which feed the computer, which feeds the actuators on the wheels which then feeds back upon the environment, which then feeds back into the sensors.  It is an entire economy in which "information processing" is only a component.

Oh, I get it. However, I don't see a non-arbitrary division between what a robot does and what, say, a galaxy does. Does a galaxy not intake light and materials, manipulate them, and output other light and materials? Does it not send practically infinite photons to neighboring galaxies in a cluster?

I still think we're just saying, "Mind is whatever seems human to us."