breckinloggins

I don’t think it would exclude non biological entities. If neurons are simply the way for such a structured field to be generated, sustained, and modulated, then presumably any physical apparatus that produced “that type of field” would produce experience.

Or a hybrid. We already know there’s a long range binding problem in neuroscience: how do physically separated neuron assemblies construct what we report as a gestalt experience.

This is a non spooky answer that also points to possible applications like cybernetic EM field modulators.

All of this is complete fantasy, of course, but the hypothesis at least has the virtue of not getting too far over its skis.

My hypothesis:

Sentience / consciousness is “hosted by” or “seated in” structured EM fields. Neurons are just the mechanism.

I’ve not yet thought of a way to falsify this hypothesis, but I continue to think there’s something to this framing.

One reason I like it is that it doesn’t completely succumb to total dualism. Also it doesn’t say WHY this would be the case, or HOW. It just says “that thing you call experience? That’s a special kind of structured EM field configuration.”

Yes. And for the same reason I still write in C or Common Lisp - by hand - in the age of LLMs.

It’s a hobby.

Interesting question. If the Waymo was driving aggressively to remove us from the situation but relatively safely I might stay in it.

This does bring up something, though: Waymo has a "pull over" feature, but it's hidden behind a couple of touch screen actions involving small virtual buttons and it does not pull over immediately. Instead, it "finds a spot to pull over". I would very much like a big red STOP IMMEDIATELY button in these vehicles.

I live in such an area. The route to my house involves steep topography via small windy streets that are very narrow and effectively one-way due to parked cars.

Human drivers routinely do worse than Waymo, which I take 2 or 3 times a week. Is it perfect? No. Does it handle the situation better than most Lyft or Uber drivers? Yes.

As a bonus: unlike some of those drivers the Waymo doesn't get palpably angry at me for driving the route.

I somehow doubt there is any future version of me that regrets joining The Long Now Foundation, and work like this is the main reason why.

If you're in SF you should pay them a visit and buy a coffee at The Interval; I think you'll find it worth the trip.

I am a former student and graduate of this department at Texas A&M. I just called The Association and informed them that I consider this completely unacceptable and will not consider donations to the university unless this policy is reversed.

I would encourage fellow like-minded Aggies to do the same.

Drs Austin and McDermott are surely spinning in their graves right now.

If it’s part of an otherwise coherent post making a larger point I have no issue with it.

If it’s a low effort copy pasta post I think downvotes are sufficient unless it starts to obliterate the signal vs noise ratio on the site.

I am happy the author followed her curiosity. I remember feeling much the same “pull” when I moved to San Francisco in 2013.

Those of us who really vibe with the place seem to share a desire to get behind the city’s strange magic and discover the past souls and events that make San Francisco what it is - that make it feel this particular way that it does.

To the author and everyone else who has arrived here recently: welcome to San Francisco!

Holy cow... I signed up to HN 18 years ago. I am more of a behind-the-scenes guy in the tech world so I don't know most of you but I've enjoyed participating in this community over the years.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving; here's to the next 18 years! :)

Interesting critique. Care to elaborate?

Right. So do you flick it at ChatGPT? It's talking to you, after all.

(I honestly don't know. If there's any phenomenal consciousness there it would have to be during inference, but I doubt it.)

> How does the wand know what I'm flicking it at?

Magic! (i.e. not purely part of the thought experiment, unless I'm missing something interesting)

> What if I miss?

Panpsychism better be true :)

> Can I target the wand with itself?

John Malkovich? Is that you?!

Hey not fair!

While you're in there I have a few favors to ask...