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Science

In reply to the discussion: Virtual Brain in ten years [View all]

hunter

(38,240 posts)
15. If we've got "souls" then so do dogs. Probably trees and cows and fish too.
Wed Nov 28, 2012, 10:12 PM
Nov 2012

I go about my business as if everything has got a soul because I like to believe I've got one. But in my deep, depressed cynical heart, I don't think humans are all that interesting. Otherwise the space aliens would have revealed themselves to us and said "hello." Instead they are disgusted by us. I'm sure many alien grad students and associate professors are here on earth in disguise, studying truly interesting life forms like beetles and ants, but they avoid us filthy tiny-souled humans as best they can.

My personal belief in souls does make eating complicated. I ate a bit of cow today, but it was a happy California cow, a cow that got some time in the field enjoying sunshine and eating real grass before it got sent off to the feedlot to be stuffed with GMO corn and turned into beef sausage.

Thank you, cow.

I ate a bit of Thanksgiving turkey too, but I don't think my sister-in-law paid much attention to where it came from. It might have been some horrible factory farm, but I didn't ask. Even so, thank you Thanksgiving turkey.

If I can attribute some kind of soul to most everything I eat, then attributing a soul to some very complicated bit of software isn't a big stretch.

Sure, I'll talk to you, even if you only exist within a big computer.



Virtual Brain in ten years [View all] preventivePhD Nov 2012 OP
Excellent! Hayabusa Nov 2012 #1
"When can I upload my consciousness into it?" longship Nov 2012 #2
Here's a free ebook to download... hunter Nov 2012 #14
If it's a legitimate virtual brain, then the body will have a way of shutting it down. n/t Kennah Nov 2012 #3
It wouldn't have a soul FiveGoodMen Nov 2012 #4
I have some problems with the idea of 'uploading' my 'consciousness' into a computer..... LongTomH Nov 2012 #5
This idea is fully explored in James Patrick's Kelly's "Think Like A Dinosaur" short story preventivePhD Nov 2012 #12
"Think Like A Dinosaur" was made into a really good Outer Limits episode bananas Nov 2012 #16
story outline preventivePhD Dec 2012 #17
Real AI isn't even on the distant horizon Warpy Nov 2012 #6
they're computer are already 10,000 times more powerful than Deep Thought preventivePhD Nov 2012 #11
Douglas Adams reference Warpy Nov 2012 #13
Would this virtual brain be conscious? Jim__ Nov 2012 #7
There simulating everything down to the molecular level preventivePhD Nov 2012 #10
I don't see where they claim to be simulating everything. Jim__ Dec 2012 #20
The leader of the project repeatedly has claimed consciousness will be achieved preventivePhD Dec 2012 #22
can you imagine the power requirements!? AlecBGreen Dec 2012 #21
does your brain have a soul? phantom power Nov 2012 #8
Partly explored in Neuromancer, written in 1983. Kablooie Nov 2012 #9
If we've got "souls" then so do dogs. Probably trees and cows and fish too. hunter Nov 2012 #15
When I read the title my first thought was... Marrah_G Dec 2012 #18
If I had a "virtual brain" sakabatou Dec 2012 #19
i think the only path for you to remain you and live longer than normal qazplm Dec 2012 #23
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