On naturalism and consciousness

[Neo-Scholastic]

Within a naturalistic paradigm the term "multiple realizable" is used to describe mind supported by various platforms. The word transcendent has metaphysical/spiritual connotations that could be unintended.

I've spent a couple hours thinking about this, due to comments on my thread about transcendence. I don't mind the connotations you're talking about, because metaphysics means basically "the physics of physics," i.e. the underlying principles on which mechanical interactions rely. That some people use it to talk about ghosts, OBEs, etc. is irrelevant.

Even though I know what you mean by transcendent, some of the less philosophically minded members will not. The connotations prompt idiots to mention ectoplasm, ghosts, and such.

Rhythm's idea is a good one in that it at least identifies an observable and easy-to-understand principle on which mind might depend: the ability of a mechanism to make logical comparisons.

I disagree. A brute force chess program seems to satisfy that requirement and sets the bar far too low. To distinguish between the semblance of consciousness and actual consciousness, someone needs to find something that consciousness and only consciousness can influence. I realize that pseudoskeptics cannot fathom this as a possibility but I think the best candidate would be some kind of psionic ability, like presentiment.