I think the point being made is perfectly reasonable. It's entirely possible to think that there's probably nothing stopping things more like a computer than like a brain having actual intelligence/consciousness, even if there's no particular pointer from where we are to that state. We are an existence proof that matter can do this, and there's little reason to think it's the only way it can.

[–] swlabr@awful.systems 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

No, it's not reasonable. This is what you're saying:

Matter can have consciousness (see: humans).
Computers are made of matter.

Therefore, it's conceivable that a computer can have consciousness.

This is logically valid but meaningless. There's nothing to be done with this. There's no reason to be had here.

Then we have the banal take of "if we had a magic box with infinite capabilities, it could do X!", where, in this case, X happens to be "have consciousness". Ok! Great. You have fun playing in the sandpit, thinking about your magic box. I'm gonna smoke cigarettes and play slot machines for an hour.

It's only when we start bringing the discussion down to simulations on a Turing machine that this stuff gets interesting. But that's not what y'all are trying to talk about, because you haven't read the goddamn essay.

[–] dgerard@awful.systems 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You have fun playing in the sandpit, thinking about your magic box. I’m gonna smoke cigarettes and play slot machines for an hour.

thread winner

[–] swlabr@awful.systems 2 points 1 day ago

I saw a chance to RP a deadbeat parent and I took it

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