Re: [asa] Quantum quackery

Iain wrote:

<<(2) The opponents of "Strong AI", of whom Roger Penrose is one of the chief proponents, who argue that an algorithm will never be conscious, and that there are bits of fundamental physics that we've not yet understood that would be at the heart of it.? Penrose maintains it is due to quantum gravity, but I'm not sure how much this is because that, too is an unsolved area. >>

At present, I would find Penrose' idea of microtubules rather unconvincing on the grand scale he proposes, however, it might be that there are occasional quantum events.? I liken it to "salt", where the brain is largely a hunk of meat.? Much of what we do is the "meat" but occasionally, a little "salt" appears.?

At any rate, I still think?Penrose' argument that the brain is not algorithmic may be valid.? The main issue is whether Goedel's theorem can be applied in this broader context that?Penrose uses.? Computers do operate on binary logic, so he might be right.? Moreover, if God really exists and is not part of this universe as such, how would we know of God if the mind were?mere meat (mere logic boards and deterministic circuits)???Without wiring a computer as such, I don't think it could believe in anything, though logically it would?declare the existence of?a creator.?

Well, once a dualist, always a dualist, but it does strike me that something is missing, though I am reluctant to grasp for quantum mechanics.? Quantum mechanics does not solve the issue of _free_ will; because the system remains deterministic even though you don't know which state(s) the system will have.? As long as there is complete determinism, there is no responsibility for sin.? A robot does not "sin" when it kills a person, it is just defective.? If we pop in QM, then the robot may or may not kill, but if it does, it will still be counted as defective, not as a sinner. So there is something else.

Whatever consciousness is,?unless God somehow?manipulates that quantum determinism, I don't think we should be in much of a hurry to?grasp for either logic boards and circuits, or quantum entanglement.

By Grace we ?proceed,
Wayne

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Received on Thu Sep 20 09:55:41 2007