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  Dennis Hackethal revised idea #556. The revision addresses idea #563.

Fix reference to idea


Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

But, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

But, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states in #498.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

  Dennis Hackethal criticized idea #556.

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

But, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

#556·Tom Nassis, about 1 year ago

as Dennis states below

It was below when you wrote the comment, but now that it’s rendered it’s actually above! Will revise this part for you.

  Dennis Hackethal commented on idea #553.

I know what you mean, but Veritula unavoidably facilitates public (i.e. social) interactions, no? Of a certain kind, to be clear. Ideas, ideas, ideas.

#553·Tom Nassis, about 1 year ago

Well, discussions are necessarily a ‘social’ activity in that they involve at least two people, yes. I just don’t want Veritula to be yet another social network.

In a mixed society, people can prioritize truth seeking or fitting in but not both.

  Dennis Hackethal revised criticism #559.

The mind is a computer.

No, the mind is a program. A computer is a physical object; the mind is not.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

No, the mind is a program. A computer is a physical object; the mind is not.

In a Deutschian understanding, ‘person’ and ‘mind’ are synonymous. So a person isn’t a computer, either. A person is also a program.

  Dennis Hackethal criticized idea #556.

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

But, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

#556·Tom Nassis, about 1 year ago

The mind is a computer.

No, the mind is a program. A computer is a physical object; the mind is not.

  Dennis Hackethal criticized idea #548.

I'll have to tap out sorry. Possibly talking on different trajectories.

If an OR gate is conceived as a computer then the initial post about the brain being conceived as a computer is a banality / an uninteresting syllogism.

#548·Nick Willmott, about 1 year ago

You may consider it banal but is it false?

An OR gate takes two bits of information and transforms them into a single bit of information by following a specific rule. It clearly processes information. And if that’s true for an OR gate, why not for the brain?

  Tom Nassis revised idea #555.

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

Therefore, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

But, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

  Tom Nassis commented on idea #215.

Anything that processes information is a computer.

The brain processes information.

Therefore, the brain is a computer.

#215·Dennis HackethalOP, over 1 year ago

Yes, and I can accept that the brain is a computer.

Therefore, we might make a number of subsequent moves.

The mind is a computer. An individual person is a computer.

And yes, "not the kind of computer people traditionally think of when they hear the term, like a laptop or desktop," as Dennis states below.

But, the term 'computer' implies deterministic connotations.

David Deutsch and others talk about the 'creative program' each human possesses. This also implies determinism.

I know that David Deutsch and Karl Popper strongly side with free will in the free will / determinism debate.

But how do we articulate and explain a computer and creative program with freedom, free will, choice, agency, and autonomy?

  Tom Nassis submitted idea #554.

Veritula deserves to scale to the size of Wikipedia.

But it never will, unless its users innovate.

How can the global success of Wikipedia inspire Veritula?

  Tom Nassis revised idea #552.

I know what you mean, but Veritula unavoidably facilitates public (i.e. social) interactions, no?

I know what you mean, but Veritula unavoidably facilitates public (i.e. social) interactions, no? Of a certain kind, to be clear. Ideas, ideas, ideas.

  Tom Nassis commented on idea #515.

[H]aving a list of members would build a sense of rapport between the participants.

Just so you know, although I’ve implemented the list of members, I do want to be clear that Veritula is not meant for socializing.

#515·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

I know what you mean, but Veritula unavoidably facilitates public (i.e. social) interactions, no?

  Tom Nassis commented on criticism #514.

Done as of 6251b6a, see veritula.com/members.

#514·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Thank you, Dennis.👍

  Tom Nassis commented on idea #504.

Good idea. I’ve added this to my list of features to implement.

#504·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

  Tom Nassis commented on idea #454.

See #449. Since this is a separate concern, not directly related to #337, you’d want to submit a top-level idea rather than comment on #337. The form for top-level ideas is currently at the bottom of this page. I obviously need to make this clearer.

#454·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

  Nick Willmott commented on criticism #513.

Yes re OR gate.

Re light switches: as I understand it, they either inhibit or permit the flow of electricity. But there’s no information there, let alone processing of information. So the example is flawed, I think.

#513·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

I'll have to tap out sorry. Possibly talking on different trajectories.

If an OR gate is conceived as a computer then the initial post about the brain being conceived as a computer is a banality / an uninteresting syllogism.

  Dennis Hackethal revised criticism #527.

Well non-existence, by definition, can’t exist, right?

Well non-existence, by definition, can’t exist, right? Rules itself out.

  Dennis Hackethal commented on idea #544.

Inexplicit criticism is good, maybe you can make it explicit someday and we can continue.

#544·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

I’d like that.

And yes inexplicit criticism is good! And not taking infinite criticism is bad. Someone should make a list of understandable pitfalls one ought to avoid when trying to apply critical rationalism.

(Logan Chipkin)

  Dennis Hackethal commented on idea #543.

Yes, it should. I am left with no counterargument but a mild sense of dissatisfaction.

(Logan Chipkin)

#543·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Inexplicit criticism is good, maybe you can make it explicit someday and we can continue.

  Dennis Hackethal commented on criticism #542.

To the question of existence.

#542·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Yes, it should. I am left with no counterargument but a mild sense of dissatisfaction.

(Logan Chipkin)

  Dennis Hackethal addressed criticism #541.

You mean to the question of existence, or in general? Cuz in general I’d think of it as a criticism.

(Logan Chipkin)

#541·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

To the question of existence.

  Dennis Hackethal addressed criticism #540.

Since you agree (#539) that logic is part of philosophy, the law of the excluded middle should satisfy you as a philosophical answer, no?

#540·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

You mean to the question of existence, or in general? Cuz in general I’d think of it as a criticism.

(Logan Chipkin)

  Dennis Hackethal addressed criticism #537.

Good point - philosophy, then.

(Logan Chipkin)

#537·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Since you agree (#539) that logic is part of philosophy, the law of the excluded middle should satisfy you as a philosophical answer, no?

  Dennis Hackethal commented on idea #538.

Is logic part of philosophy?

#538·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Yes (Logan Chipkin)

  Dennis Hackethal commented on criticism #537.

Good point - philosophy, then.

(Logan Chipkin)

#537·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Is logic part of philosophy?

  Dennis Hackethal addressed criticism #536.

Doesn’t physics presume the existence of physical objects and laws? Ie it presumes the existence of something physical. So it presumes existence itself. In which case physics can’t be the arbiter here.

#536·Dennis HackethalOP, about 1 year ago

Good point - philosophy, then.

(Logan Chipkin)