Posted by alexandra_k on August 16, 2005, at 17:26:52
In reply to Re: robot brains » alexandra_k, posted by Damos on August 15, 2005, at 18:24:41
Okay, so take my brain. A neuron is an input-output device. It takes signal from incomming connections and has a threshold. If enough exitatory connections send exitatory signals so that the threshold is reached then it sends a signal to all the neurons that it is connected with.
It is possible in principle (though a little tricky in practice) to replace this biological input-output device with a silicon counterpart which has the same function. You just need to carefully remove the original neuron and then hook up the silicon device to the same input-output connections.
Lets say that in this way... progressively... gradually... all the neurons are replaced with silicon chips.
Does my consciousness gradually diminish or is it preserved?
The function is preserved (I would behave the same). So is the essence the function or is there more to it than that?
Some people do want to say that consciousness progressively diminishes (usually because they believe consciousness is essentially a biological phenomenon). Not many... But a few.
So lets take a neuron from a dead person then. Lets replace my neurons with actual biological neurons. Am I still me, or will I become them???
We can make life in the lab. We can get simple living biological organisms by combining chemicals in certain ways...
What if we made me neurons like this?
Bearing in mind that every cell in our body is different every 7 years or so...
Continuity...
How on earth???
poster:alexandra_k
thread:541758
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20050807/msgs/542586.html