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by postmodest 808 days ago
Could Pet Rocks Be Conscious?

I mean, really. I feel like having a method of sensation and an ability to react to those sensations is a fundamental basis for "consciousness" and if you can point to the sun or the Local Cluster's sensory apparatus, I may listen to the rest of your (the Editorial You, not the commenter this reply is attached to) argument.

Otherwise, we're just pointing at complex things and saying "does haz Conscience lol?"
2 comments
atlantic 808 days ago
Avicenna argued otherwise. Have a look at his "floating man" thought experiment for how consciousness can exist detached from any sense experience.
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imtringued 807 days ago
The problem with your definition is that it excluded forms of life that do not have actors and sensors. Implying that consciousness is not a mental property, but rather a property of being physically able to manipulate the world.

I.e. you are saying Stephen Hawking is definitely less conscious than an average human with functioning arms and legs. In its essence, you are too focused on your own experience of reality.

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yetihehe 807 days ago
It is about fundamental basis for consciousness. Stephen Hawking had sensory apparatus and a method to react to inputs. Alas, I would say he is no longer conscious. If he had no method to react, like locked-in patients, we could argue about whether they are conscious, but we are currently trying to measure consciousness in those people too by measuring brain waves (look, something changes predictably when he hears us). We don't see any evidence that sun has any sensory input or output. It's like you arguing whether 0.9999 or 0.99999 is bigger when I argue whether 0 or 1 is bigger.
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hackable_sand 807 days ago
A pure observer with no deliberate actions or impulse reactions sounds like it can most definitely be conscious.

Do we have to interact with it?

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yetihehe 807 days ago
> A pure observer with no deliberate actions or impulse reactions sounds like it can most definitely be conscious.

Yes, but how can we know about the existence of such observer? There can be infinite number of such observers filling every cubic millimeter of our space, but does it change anything for us? Existence of such observer is as meaningless as orbital teapots [0].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot

Edit: a voice recorder without a tape and battery meets your definition. Is it conscious?

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