Are you convinced you are a simulation? — universeness

I believe we are simulations of that intelligence. For some reason they created us. Sounds like believe in God but it's actually rooted in the material universe. Maybe they created us for the same reason we develop transhumans or robots. If so, it's only natural to proceed on the road of technological development and galactic colonialization. We help them, and ourselves, in the search for knowledge and wisdom.

It's my guess you had some bad experiences with religion. So your paranoia might just be a defend mechanism. Which is understandable.

Biological computing is, for example, currently trying to identify a process within proteins, which is reliable/stable/controllable enough to emulate at least the two binary states (0,1) within electronic computer systems. — universeness

The new developments in biological computing, quantum computing, and CRISPR, offer a strong cocktail trio for extending life beyond humans and within humanity itself.

Now who's a 'little bit paranoid?' — universeness

I just repeated your claim that it is me using theist tactics. Who says it's not you using theist tactics? Why you accused me of it? Where did I give you the impression I believe in God?

As @Vincent pointed out, when WW3 arrives this year, technology development will be accelerated and the quest for immortality and omniscience will be boosted. If we are simulations of a super intelligent alien civilization, they will probably have a reason for letting us get involved in a new world war.

An event is a zero-dimensional structure, a point. Cause and effect are defined for infinitesimals only. An infinitesimal is not a point. From which we have to conclude logically that cause and effect don't apply to an event.

@universeness seems to be playing a very refined cos play here. Peddling atheism and transhumanism while actually advocating for God. It's a well-known theistic tactic to accuse others of doing that, thereby strengthening the atheist cover.

Is your blog a preaching for God?

Basically, there are two causes. Mental causes and physical causes. Mental causes obey different laws than physical causes. Action resulting from mental states are teleological causes. Why lays the book on the table? Because we had the idea to put it there. The idea was the cause. The table pushing up is the cause it stays on it. Where do the mental and physical meet?

Thanks! You're incredible. A bit paranoid, but still incredible...

To address the question asked, the answer is a firm-sounding yes. It's expected that minds gradually appear in robots, which already today can perform ingenious motion. There are robots answering autonomously. Complete autonomy as not been achieved yet but the state of the art is growing exponentially and the limit of miniaturization is still far away. We could, in principle, construct a neuron-sized micro computer and use the structure of the vacuum as memory. Imagine a three-dimensional packing of these and it becomes clear that in comparison with the brain a progression is made. Already now, the retina can be replaced by an artificial structure and the artificial heart is a fact. The paralyzed can influence computers by thought. We can upload the results of knowledge gathering and make it available for everyone, leading to new knowledge and new technology, in a mutually reinforcing dance. Etcetera, etcetera. We only have taken the first steps, still falling a lot, but the signs don't lie. And with quantum computing just born, we should not be surprised if we will have created a first artificially mind this century.

I find anything from Carl Sagan, Richard Feynmann — universeness

For the sake of Richard, his surname is Feynman. Small detail, but still...

I see no point in exchanging viewpoints with you. I don't trust your intentions. — universeness

And what would these intentions be? Promoting theism? You have a strange way of thinking. Says probably more about you then about me.

see no point in exchanging viewpoints with you. I don't trust your intentions. I think you are a troll. — universeness

And who says you are not the troll? I just write how the world and humans might look one day. With the aid of technology. I can't see how this would be an attempt to undermine transhumanism. I think it would be great to be transhuman and think I might encounter them in my lifetime. In a limited sense they are already here. We have hear implants and nano-bots are awaiting. If we can extend life with them, we can get wiser and develop even smarter machines. Which could develop smarter ware again. The omega point is a realistic future.

@Vincent talks about worldpeace! What's wrong with that? He has a future vision where man has left his evolutionary superfluous baggage and has replaced it by the miracles of technique. It's an optimistic vision. Except maybe the WW3.

I think your future views are great! :smile:

The antichrist is to much for me though. I'm an atheist like you once was.

Well if you are just here to troll then you would roleplay, wouldn't you. — universeness

I'm a atheist. God is a fantasy. I'm just curious why you think I'm a theist? What in what I wrote makes you think that?

Current state of the art computer technology, especially recent developments in quantum computing, are indications of a future. A problem that took an ordinary computer hundreds of years, was solved in a few hours! And it took less than a century for this computer to emerge. Compared with the brain, that's in the blink of an eye. We shouldn't be surprised if computer scientists will soon provide us with structures to replace the brain. Our consciousness will be expanded and useless brain tissue can be replaced or our coupled to the informative potential of the net. A direct brain-net link is imaginable. Brain information can eventually be uploaded into the net, where we might temporarily exist to search for new knowledge gathered by fellow humans.

Your poor attempt at mockery of transhumanism is obvious and transparent.
Are you a theist? — universeness

Where do you read I'm a theist? I didn't mention God once. Don't you agree the future has huge potential? Don't you write about nano-bots? The can be programmed to enter our cells savely and make adjustments! The future looks bright! I don't hope a WW3 happens, but we'll live!

nicely said. All progress starts with imagination — Vincent

Thanks! Thanks to the incredible speed of progress in the computing sciences and miniaturization to the atomic level, we shouldn't be surprised that in our lifetime immortality might be finally reached! I envision a salvation army of nano-bots injected in our bloodstream, every single one of them entering our cells, making adjustments to our telomeres, so they won't shorten each time a cell divides, immunizìsing the body against aging. A youth vaccine! Once immortality is reached, we can replace brain structures that are no longer needed, like the emotative areas involved in procreation, male/female distinctive structures, and other distracting functions that undermine the knowledge gathering in our scientific quest. Useless functions like involved in the arts, people judgment and discrimination can be replaced by cognitive implants (or internal atomic memory, though our linkage to the net can provide us with a massive amount of data, which grows daily by the contribution of other immortals, who can simply upload results to the net in the blink of an eye. Eyes that can be modulated, like other sensory equipment, to be able, in combination with the new cognitive implants, access domains of reality currently inaccessible to our limited machinery. We might see new colors, hear unheard things, maybe even experience infinity and omnipresence! The journey only has started!

Just imagine! To live forever in the network! Peacefully flying into ever greater realms of knowledge...

Sure. Hence my initial question, can it be a slight - a reference to a superseded and rigid epistemologically constrained ontology? — Tom Storm

I not only think it can, but it is. Kant's rigidly constrained epistemological ontology lies at the base of his equally rigid moral imperative. His metaphysical transcendent reality feels inert and unshakable, like the bridge in Köningsbergen over which also the rigidly classical Hamilton walked when he had his quaternion eureka moment. Too classically rigid and absolute...

If he's right and it will be this year, then he's made the greatest discovery ever — Vincent

You can say that! Let's hope the nukes are dropped!

The study by Ingo Piepers has proven using mathematical formulas that WW3 and the sixth mass extinction will start at the latest in 2022 and will last 16 years — Vincent

Interesting! Do you know Pieper's mathematical approach?

I think you're right that it's the powers that matter. Had you been born in ancient Greece, you maybe invoked Athena's wisdom or the oracle. In the middle age era you maybe invoked God or even the devil. Had you been born in an Indian tribe, a visit to the shaman might have done the trick. In the modern day era most of us naturally visit the science-based doctors. Which is based on a western approach to knowledge. All have their advantages and disadvantages I guess.

In the modern world, with a lot more science at our disposal than Kant ever had in small-town Köningsberg, it's hard to remain Kantian.

Sounds great! I hope we will prevail and enter the era after.

I think it's a joke to relate being funny to procreation. Being funny as a compensation for being ugly. If that's the reason of being funny or tell a joke then it ain't funny anymore.

This post is a joke! Or... serious?