Re: Maudlin's Demon (Argument)

From: Bruno Marchal <marchal.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:59:45 +0200

Le 09-oct.-06, à 21:54, George Levy a écrit :

> To observe a split consciousness, you need an observer who is also
> split,

?

> in sync with the split consciousness, across time, space, substrate
> and level (a la Zelazny - Science Fiction writer). In your example,
> for an observer to see consciousness in the machine, he must be
> willing to exist at the earlier interval, skip over the time delay
> carrying the recording and resume his existence at the later interval.
> If he observes only a part of the whole thing, say the recording, he
> may conclude that the machine is not conscious.

This is unclear for me. Unless you are just saying like Leibniz that
you will not "see" consciousness in a brain by examining it under a
microscope.

Note also that I could attribute consciousness to a recording, but this
makes sense only if the recording is precise enough so that I could add
the "Klaras" or anything which would make it possible to continue some
conversation with the system. And then I do not attribute consciousness
to the physical appearance of the system, but to some people which
manifests him/it/herself through it.



> In addition, if we are going to split consciousness maximally in this
> fashion, the concept of observer becomes important, something you do
> not include in your example.


Could you elaborate. I don't understand. As a consequence of the
reasoning the observer (like the knower, the feeler) will all be very
important (and indeed will correspond to the hypostases (n-person pov)
in the AUDA). But in the reasoning, well either we are valid going from
one step to the next or not, and I don't see the relevance of your
point here. I guess I miss something.



> (**) I am open to thoroughly discuss this, for example in november.
> Right now I am a bit over-busy (until the end of october).
>
> OK. Take your time.


I will, thanks. In the meanwhile I would appreciate if you could
elaborate your point.

Bruno


http://iridia.ulb.ac.be/~marchal/


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Received on Tue Oct 10 2006 - 09:00:04 PDT

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