Monday, October 11, 2004
Uploading Our Minds to Computers
Now we're getting to the meat of this class! After reading chapter 6 in our latest book, Professor Mack challenged us to divide in groups and discuss the pros and cons of uploading our minds to a computer hard drive. She wanted us to do this from three points of view:
1. scientific/logical argumentation (disembodied)
2. argument based upon opinion and basic belief
3. argument based upon our experience as humans with bodies
My group was charged with the task p.o.v. number 3. Rather than take one side of the issue, we brainstormed a number of different pros and cons for each side of the argument (for uploading our brains and not). Here are some of our ideas discussed in our individual group as well as our entire class...hopefully they will provoke your own thoughts on this incredibly interesting subject:
Pros of uploading our minds to computers
1. we would no longer have to feel bodily pain
2. our minds can continue to function long after our bodies have worn down (we came up with this point after discussing Ray Kurzweil's idea that our minds are nothing short of human software running on the hardware that is the human body. Kurzweil commented that the human body was not a particularly robust machine, and that uploading our minds to a computer would allow us to function in a body that is much stronger and functional for a longer-lasting amount of time)
3. computer could do heavy thinking/homework/etc while our bodies go out to seek physical pleasure, whether it be from watching T.V., playing sports, etc.
4. people with debilitating injuries or physical handicaps/paralyzation can use this as a last resort to continue to function without a body
5. your brain is still your brain, no one can access it or know its contents unless you should choose to share/divulge it with others
Cons of uploading our minds to computers
1. why would anyone want to live forever?
2. living forever means life would lose much of its special meaning
3. robotic bodies or computers could physically malfunction beyond our control (with bodies, we can physically go to the doctor or take a certain medicine, etc.) ...we may be able to fix internal problems, such as viruses, but would need another person or device to fix our hardware problems
4. a virus could permanently wipe out our memory on the hard drive (but then again, so could Alzheimer's)
5. connection to a 'world brain' or all the other brains uploaded on a computer could be access to more information than our brains are ready for...access to all points of view...when in a body, the mind/brain can only access information that the body allows it to access (by taking it to a certain section inthe library or conversing with certain people)...point of view could potentially be extinguished, making us all essentially the same software
6. hacking...no privacy for your brain when it's connected to a modem
These are only some of the ideas addressed in our class. Hope it piqued your interest, and I'll definitely post some more in the future on this subject. Have a nice day! I'm off to study for a calculus quiz! Whoohoo!
1. scientific/logical argumentation (disembodied)
2. argument based upon opinion and basic belief
3. argument based upon our experience as humans with bodies
My group was charged with the task p.o.v. number 3. Rather than take one side of the issue, we brainstormed a number of different pros and cons for each side of the argument (for uploading our brains and not). Here are some of our ideas discussed in our individual group as well as our entire class...hopefully they will provoke your own thoughts on this incredibly interesting subject:
Pros of uploading our minds to computers
1. we would no longer have to feel bodily pain
2. our minds can continue to function long after our bodies have worn down (we came up with this point after discussing Ray Kurzweil's idea that our minds are nothing short of human software running on the hardware that is the human body. Kurzweil commented that the human body was not a particularly robust machine, and that uploading our minds to a computer would allow us to function in a body that is much stronger and functional for a longer-lasting amount of time)
3. computer could do heavy thinking/homework/etc while our bodies go out to seek physical pleasure, whether it be from watching T.V., playing sports, etc.
4. people with debilitating injuries or physical handicaps/paralyzation can use this as a last resort to continue to function without a body
5. your brain is still your brain, no one can access it or know its contents unless you should choose to share/divulge it with others
Cons of uploading our minds to computers
1. why would anyone want to live forever?
2. living forever means life would lose much of its special meaning
3. robotic bodies or computers could physically malfunction beyond our control (with bodies, we can physically go to the doctor or take a certain medicine, etc.) ...we may be able to fix internal problems, such as viruses, but would need another person or device to fix our hardware problems
4. a virus could permanently wipe out our memory on the hard drive (but then again, so could Alzheimer's)
5. connection to a 'world brain' or all the other brains uploaded on a computer could be access to more information than our brains are ready for...access to all points of view...when in a body, the mind/brain can only access information that the body allows it to access (by taking it to a certain section inthe library or conversing with certain people)...point of view could potentially be extinguished, making us all essentially the same software
6. hacking...no privacy for your brain when it's connected to a modem
These are only some of the ideas addressed in our class. Hope it piqued your interest, and I'll definitely post some more in the future on this subject. Have a nice day! I'm off to study for a calculus quiz! Whoohoo!
# posted by David Duncan @ 9:42 AM 
