Posted on 01/16/2014 2:25:14 PM PST by Heartlander
OK. Come back when you've found me there.
That sort of thing seems to depend on the adequacy of one's world view. If one's worldview is premised exclusively on the belief that all of reality "supervenes on the physical," that the universe is restricted to only material and efficient causes (not to mention local ones), then how do you explain "What is Life?" Including your own?
I haven't said anything about "restricting causes" or adopting any particular "worldview". I'm simply arguing for what looks to be the most inclusive scope of inquiry, as I do not see any good reason for it to be restricted by narrowing the question.
I don’t see AI or simulations as being an attempt to create life, at least not yet.
We are all pretty much agreed that whatever life is, we don’t yet have a good solid definition.
Rather AI gives us results and shows us the boundaries of what might/might not be considered “life”.
Is it some kind of pattern? A pattern that has, above all else, a sense of self-preservation?
Something interesting to think about - we all have heard of computer “viruses” (sic, SB virii).
We wouldn’t call that life by any stretch of the imagination.
But imagine forty years from now, some guy finds an old PC in his basement, plugs it into the “interspace” (or whatever it is called by then), and an old virus, long deemed extinct and no threat to the web, resurfaces and re-infects millions of PCs or cell phones or whatever they have then.
Just seems to me the parallels are fascinating. Remember, it was only recently they drilled into Lake Vostok in Antarctica, and exposed the life there to our surface. Life that has not been on the surface for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years!
GMTA
You're projecting.
I’m glad you’re feeling better.
How can that be? Nothing in the hard sciences (not even biology itself!) explains it.
(ie. ghost in the machine)
Exactly... Art, prose, poetry, music, ballet, mechanical invention, medicine, law, forgiveness, love, gratitude, sacrifice, joy, couture, gourmands, gossip, drama, and several thousand other “TELLS” of the ghost in the machine....
Even small minds can fish out a few termites with a stick..
or be happy to exist solely on food stamps.. or givernment grants..
The discovery of all the things that “what is reality?” will answer that “what is life?” will not.
Define “reality”.... again if need be..
Some define reality as God..
If we're still asking what it is, then defining it seems a little premature.
If everyone can have whatever defintion they want, then the question may not be "what is reality?" but "what do I want it to be?"
But there's the rub: "Life" according to whose description/definition? If you can't define it, how are you ever going to find its "boundaries?"
On the other hand, the idea of Life would seem to imply the idea of "self-preservation"....
Thanks so much for writing, dear djf!
No, you haven't. But you evidently do "restrict" your thinking according to a "worldview." I gather you just haven't realized that yet.
You don't?
I see.. you can't, won't, will not, or refuse to?...
Well that's an answer.. kinda what I thought..
If reality is God.. how then can you define "IT"..
Wise approach actually...
Of course religion's try.. which is better than dumbing up..
I have found none that actually did though.. (define it/him/her)
My thought a human cannot define reality.. (any human)
but aspects of it can be defined.. aspects "they" can conceive of..
I believe there are "things" NO human can fully conceive of...
Yes.. conceive of,,, not just "think about"..
Being human may be premature to that.. knowledge..
It's either that or a padded room.
It’s either that or a padded room.
I think you’ve overlooked being satisfied with not “knowing”..
What do you “know” for sure?..
Don't trust Obama, and don't piss in a fuse box.
Don’t trust Obama, and don’t piss in a fuse box.
Wise counsel..
How would you describe/categorize your basic worldview?
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