RE: On naturalism and consciousness
September 4, 2014 at 11:41 am
(This post was last modified: September 4, 2014 at 11:48 am by The Grand Nudger.)
(September 4, 2014 at 11:36 am)ChadWooters Wrote:Not "who", -what-, in comp theory (or at least my particular take on it). A "who" is unnecessary. Computation proceeds regardless.(September 3, 2014 at 1:21 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Interpreting signals from your eyes and then creating a "visual image" based upon that abstraction -is computing-.The key word here is 'interpreting', as in who is doing the interpretation.
It -is- data processing, even if there's "more" to it. That visual field -is- data -being- processed....
Quote:An abacus is also a data processing device, albeit manually powered. The beads are manipulated according to an algorithm but have no meaning in themselves. The meaning comes from outside the algorithmic system. Likewise, electronic switches and lights have no meaning other than what they get assigned by a knowing subject.That's ridiculous. The "meaning" is described at the level of architecture. It doesn't require any "knowing" or a "subject" , let alone a "knowing subject". The circuit "means" that the light comes on or off when the switch gets flipped - even if the flipper doesn't know how that occurs, and even if the mechanism arose by a process of which we are entirely ignorant (have no knowledge of). That light switch- will still mean what it means, and still do the work - even if there were no "knowing subjects" (humans, in this case) present -anywhere-.
The only requirement that switch has is energy. It's structural composition already grants it opportunity.
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