Post by Breanne Ellis on Feb 14, 2015 5:43:14 GMT
Week four
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
Most scientists feel the best way to explain the subject of consciousness is “by a process of eliminative materialism” (Is the Universe An App?, Pg. 8). This means that if mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc, cannot be explained fully than “God did it.” From the video, Consciousness as a Mobius Strip,” consciousness should not be described from the content experienced but from the contest. Wittgenstein believed certain things should not be explained through language. A great example of virtual simulation is from an iPhone. The video, Surfing the User Interface,” explains how our apps develop us into virtual worlds. Virtual simulation is made up from the conjoining of hardware, software, programming, and user interface. Consciousness is a virtual simulator. This has helped us survive globally. The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is an idea that can be visualized internally without having to be outsourced prematurely. Most of our awareness is in our head. “Any reproducing DNA that can develop a virtual simulator within itself has a huge advantage over a genetic strand that cannot” (Brain Burn).
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
Deception is identified as the action of deceiving someone. Deception plays a huge role in how the ran tricks us. Neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and quantum physics has demonstrated that people build their experiences and information but “betray their real origin and causation” (Cerebral Mirage, Pg. 1). A great exampled of this is the ocean water. Most people base the water being blue from an observation through vision. Most people do not know that water is not actually blue. Light waves get absorbed and retracted, making h2O appear blue. In the vide, The Disneyland Consciousness, the narrator identifies several rides at Disneyland and how life-like they seem. If our brains were to neutrally trick us to make immediate judgments and future predictions in order to live another day, then we should be very cautious. The brain tricks us into believing something is real when it is not real. This trickery provides us with a survival advantage. An advantage includes when the brain is under stress it encourages us to live without dying. An adrenaline rush is also an example. “We can see things that are not there” (Cerebrum Mirage, Pg.14). Plato was right, modern physics made it clear that reality is not what it seems.
Week five
1. Do you think artificial intelligence will be a significant problem in the future?
According to Ray Kurzweil, by 2020 computers will be able to simulate the human brain. Artificial intelligence is defined as the field of study in which intelligence is given to machines. In the video, Alan Turing, Alan created the Turing Machine. This machine was similar to the Enigma Machine that was used by Adolf Hitler. We live in a multimedia world and books no longer reflect that. Science and technology has increased our intelligence on the world. Computational irreducibility lets us know that nothing will ever be predictable. This will always allow for science t progress. This has been identified as the Wolfram Conclusion. In the book, Digital Philosophy, David Lane explains how technology has advanced over time. Chapter three correlates with one of the assigned readings. The chapter states “Our digital adventures killed the book”(Pg.15). Reverse engineering, mysterians, and Mark Twain have all made advances in the digital universe.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has impacted my life in numerous ways. For example, all my life I have excelled in science. I decided I wanted to become a registered nurse when I was thirteen years old. Technology has revolutionized how we see the human body in ways we never knew before. Treatments for illnesses have found cures. Many illnesses have been discovered through technology and have advanced with knowledge over time. Scientists strive to find ways to improve everyday living. The cure for cancer has been debated for many decades. With future growths in technology, some day this idea will become a reality. I work in a chemistry lab with analytical chemists and stability personnel. Our entire careers are based off of technological advances. Finding the pH levels, viscosity, odor, appearance, lumps, and color all use technology. When a product fails, we change the chemical levels and produce new batches through machinery. I love working in a science lab because there is always room for advances. Nothing is constant. Someday I hope to invent the cure for cancer. Not because it seems like a good thing to do but because advancements in technology make this possible.
Week six
1. Why is Faqir Chand’s experiences important in understanding the projective nature of religious visions and miracles?
Understanding Faqir’s Chands experiences in the projective nature of religious visions and miracles is important since he out spoke about how gurus, masters, prophets, and mystics have deceived millions of people. In the book, The Unknown Sage: The Life and Work of Faqir Chand., he states that these all-knowing beings lied by believing “they have omnipresence and omnipotence when in fact they have neither.” He was well known for practicing an ancient meditation technique known as surat shabd yoga. This yoga attempts to induce a controlled near-death experience. Experts experience “regions of light and sound beyond the normal waking state, providing glimpses into higher realms of consciousness.” Mark Juergensmeyerinterviewed Faqir Chand. Faqir described the different stages, colors, and sounds in Radhasoam faith. He refers himself as a bubble of super consciousness. His experiences help us to believe that everything is an illusion or a dream. His only desire is to tell the world that happens after death.
2. What is meant by the phrase, “philosophy done well is science, philosophy done poorly remains philosophy?”
The phrase “philosophy done well is science, philosophy done poorly remains philosophy “states that philosophy is a stepping stool into developing matter, consciousness, and intelligence. In the book, Is the Universe Really an App?, describes the theory of eliminative materialism. Eliminative materialism is classified as if something cannot be fully expressed in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc, than “God did it.” The eliminative materialism explains how philosophy ties into multiple subjects. Philosophy can be considered a balancing act according to the book, The Oceanic Metaphor: Studies in consciousness. Quantum theory has revealed we live in a probabilistic Universe. The theory of the universe still has scientists figuring it all out. There are ten waves of information. The Oceanic Metaphor is based off of properties of cause and effect. The phrase explains how science and philosophy tie into each other. Science goes into a deeper understanding of philosophy. Ultimately, philosophy brings you to science when you get a deeper meaning and understanding through facts. Science is facts while philosophy is based off of beliefs.
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
Most scientists feel the best way to explain the subject of consciousness is “by a process of eliminative materialism” (Is the Universe An App?, Pg. 8). This means that if mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc, cannot be explained fully than “God did it.” From the video, Consciousness as a Mobius Strip,” consciousness should not be described from the content experienced but from the contest. Wittgenstein believed certain things should not be explained through language. A great example of virtual simulation is from an iPhone. The video, Surfing the User Interface,” explains how our apps develop us into virtual worlds. Virtual simulation is made up from the conjoining of hardware, software, programming, and user interface. Consciousness is a virtual simulator. This has helped us survive globally. The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is an idea that can be visualized internally without having to be outsourced prematurely. Most of our awareness is in our head. “Any reproducing DNA that can develop a virtual simulator within itself has a huge advantage over a genetic strand that cannot” (Brain Burn).
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
Deception is identified as the action of deceiving someone. Deception plays a huge role in how the ran tricks us. Neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and quantum physics has demonstrated that people build their experiences and information but “betray their real origin and causation” (Cerebral Mirage, Pg. 1). A great exampled of this is the ocean water. Most people base the water being blue from an observation through vision. Most people do not know that water is not actually blue. Light waves get absorbed and retracted, making h2O appear blue. In the vide, The Disneyland Consciousness, the narrator identifies several rides at Disneyland and how life-like they seem. If our brains were to neutrally trick us to make immediate judgments and future predictions in order to live another day, then we should be very cautious. The brain tricks us into believing something is real when it is not real. This trickery provides us with a survival advantage. An advantage includes when the brain is under stress it encourages us to live without dying. An adrenaline rush is also an example. “We can see things that are not there” (Cerebrum Mirage, Pg.14). Plato was right, modern physics made it clear that reality is not what it seems.
Week five
1. Do you think artificial intelligence will be a significant problem in the future?
According to Ray Kurzweil, by 2020 computers will be able to simulate the human brain. Artificial intelligence is defined as the field of study in which intelligence is given to machines. In the video, Alan Turing, Alan created the Turing Machine. This machine was similar to the Enigma Machine that was used by Adolf Hitler. We live in a multimedia world and books no longer reflect that. Science and technology has increased our intelligence on the world. Computational irreducibility lets us know that nothing will ever be predictable. This will always allow for science t progress. This has been identified as the Wolfram Conclusion. In the book, Digital Philosophy, David Lane explains how technology has advanced over time. Chapter three correlates with one of the assigned readings. The chapter states “Our digital adventures killed the book”(Pg.15). Reverse engineering, mysterians, and Mark Twain have all made advances in the digital universe.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has impacted my life in numerous ways. For example, all my life I have excelled in science. I decided I wanted to become a registered nurse when I was thirteen years old. Technology has revolutionized how we see the human body in ways we never knew before. Treatments for illnesses have found cures. Many illnesses have been discovered through technology and have advanced with knowledge over time. Scientists strive to find ways to improve everyday living. The cure for cancer has been debated for many decades. With future growths in technology, some day this idea will become a reality. I work in a chemistry lab with analytical chemists and stability personnel. Our entire careers are based off of technological advances. Finding the pH levels, viscosity, odor, appearance, lumps, and color all use technology. When a product fails, we change the chemical levels and produce new batches through machinery. I love working in a science lab because there is always room for advances. Nothing is constant. Someday I hope to invent the cure for cancer. Not because it seems like a good thing to do but because advancements in technology make this possible.
Week six
1. Why is Faqir Chand’s experiences important in understanding the projective nature of religious visions and miracles?
Understanding Faqir’s Chands experiences in the projective nature of religious visions and miracles is important since he out spoke about how gurus, masters, prophets, and mystics have deceived millions of people. In the book, The Unknown Sage: The Life and Work of Faqir Chand., he states that these all-knowing beings lied by believing “they have omnipresence and omnipotence when in fact they have neither.” He was well known for practicing an ancient meditation technique known as surat shabd yoga. This yoga attempts to induce a controlled near-death experience. Experts experience “regions of light and sound beyond the normal waking state, providing glimpses into higher realms of consciousness.” Mark Juergensmeyerinterviewed Faqir Chand. Faqir described the different stages, colors, and sounds in Radhasoam faith. He refers himself as a bubble of super consciousness. His experiences help us to believe that everything is an illusion or a dream. His only desire is to tell the world that happens after death.
2. What is meant by the phrase, “philosophy done well is science, philosophy done poorly remains philosophy?”
The phrase “philosophy done well is science, philosophy done poorly remains philosophy “states that philosophy is a stepping stool into developing matter, consciousness, and intelligence. In the book, Is the Universe Really an App?, describes the theory of eliminative materialism. Eliminative materialism is classified as if something cannot be fully expressed in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc, than “God did it.” The eliminative materialism explains how philosophy ties into multiple subjects. Philosophy can be considered a balancing act according to the book, The Oceanic Metaphor: Studies in consciousness. Quantum theory has revealed we live in a probabilistic Universe. The theory of the universe still has scientists figuring it all out. There are ten waves of information. The Oceanic Metaphor is based off of properties of cause and effect. The phrase explains how science and philosophy tie into each other. Science goes into a deeper understanding of philosophy. Ultimately, philosophy brings you to science when you get a deeper meaning and understanding through facts. Science is facts while philosophy is based off of beliefs.