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Article 7547 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Simulated Brain
Message-ID: <i53XTB6w165w@CODEWKS.nacjack.gen.nz>
>From: system@CODEWKS.nacjack.gen.nz (Wayne McDougall)
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 11:58:41 NZST
References: <1992Nov5.181001.15077@netcom.com>
Organization: The Code Works Limited, PO Box 10 155, Auckland, New Zealand
Lines: 47

lamorte@netcom.com (R. Scott LaMorte) writes:

> Point taken! Was I was trying to say, though, is that not all
> responses require conscious control. I think our definitions of
I can agree with that. I love reasoned discussion where both sides 
explain their views and reach agreement, or agree on where they 
disagree.
> consciousness are off here (oh no!).
.... which is why it is important to agree on definitions, or you can 
never have an interesting, reasoned argument.

> 
> I think if hit you on the side of the head with, say, a large lead
> pipe, and then propped you up and tapped your knee with a little hammer,
> it would probably kick.

Only in COMP.AI.PHILOSOPHY would people advocate slugging me with large 
lead pipes. [Actually, there are a number of places, but it is not 
usually in the interests of science].

I agree with this [not being slugged, but your "probably"], as does my 
doctor wife who also thinks that I wouldn't kick if you hit me hard 
enough to kill me.

> 
> That wasn't my main point though. My main point was that many reaction
Many????
> occur before our counscious mind has awareness of the stimulus. *I*
> don't have to take the time to think about blinking when you throw
> something at me, that response is hard-wired *in the brain.* "I" only
> become aware of it after the fact.
> 
Yes, but I think you were also suggesting that the brain responds to 
many body responses, whereas I think they are low-level non-conscious 
events only. I just don't see our functions as being mostly "instinct" 
or "hard-wired". I don't think a Venus Fly-trap is conscious or 
thinking when it shuts its leaves. 

In summary, I agree that there are reactions that don't involve the 
brain, but I don't think that these have any significant effect on our 
consciousness that can't be overriden by the brain/mind.

-- 
  Wayne McDougall, BCNU
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