RE: The Scripture Is False And The Biblical God Is Dead.
January 13, 2023 at 11:15 am
(This post was last modified: January 13, 2023 at 11:21 am by The Grand Nudger.)
It's certainly true that subjective experience isn't necessary for survival. OFC, that's true for every single trait that any animal might possess. Being able to breathe underwater isn't necessary for survival. Being able to fly? Not necessary. Eyes, mammary glands, bones, photosynthetic tissues, hydraulic joints, all of these are optional - as plenty of creatures survive without any of them..and every living thing still here is just as good at surviving as we are and as good at surviving as any of the creatures that possess any of those traits.
As for relative advantages to subjective experience, human subjective experience in particular, or at least to whatever gives rise to reports of subjective experience (leaving room for us being the hypothetical p-zombie or having been one at some point in our development ourselves) well....just take a look at the state of this place. We seem to be doing well. By we I don't just mean human beings, but human beings with a rich internal life, specifically. It's not exactly a secret that we're selected for. Sometimes, the selective factor isn't how much a thing x contributes to an individual cracking open a nut, but how desirable it is to a potential sexual partner, or how tightly it bonds members of a social group. If rich internal reports were nothing more than a way to flex our thinker for an audience or build intimacy, we'd expect them to have some effect on sexual selection, like any other display.
As far as we can tell, that's not actually what happened, ofc. There appears to have been subjective experience in our lineage long before we show up, and long after that same lineage demonstrated it's ability to survive.
As for relative advantages to subjective experience, human subjective experience in particular, or at least to whatever gives rise to reports of subjective experience (leaving room for us being the hypothetical p-zombie or having been one at some point in our development ourselves) well....just take a look at the state of this place. We seem to be doing well. By we I don't just mean human beings, but human beings with a rich internal life, specifically. It's not exactly a secret that we're selected for. Sometimes, the selective factor isn't how much a thing x contributes to an individual cracking open a nut, but how desirable it is to a potential sexual partner, or how tightly it bonds members of a social group. If rich internal reports were nothing more than a way to flex our thinker for an audience or build intimacy, we'd expect them to have some effect on sexual selection, like any other display.
As far as we can tell, that's not actually what happened, ofc. There appears to have been subjective experience in our lineage long before we show up, and long after that same lineage demonstrated it's ability to survive.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
