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         |  Tractern
             from Brighton (United Kingdom) on 2009-04-06 06:02 [#02284357] Points: 4210 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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 | Cognitive is to do with the brain, so no. 
 
 
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         |  swift_jams
             from big sky on 2009-04-06 06:23 [#02284363] Points: 7577 Status: Lurker
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 | Why are you worried about it? 
 
 
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         |  Tractern
             from Brighton (United Kingdom) on 2009-04-06 06:25 [#02284365] Points: 4210 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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 | LAZY_TITLE 
 and if that's not good enough...
 
 LAZY_TITLE
 
 
 
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         |  Monoid
             from one source all things depend on 2009-04-06 06:28 [#02284366] Points: 11012 Status: Lurker
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 | I dont think you can compare animals to computers. The human cognition is more like a mirror. It doesnt just reflect (or
 reverberate) it bends the light. This means the human brain
 constructs some parts of reality, which a computer does not
 (it just interprets the input)
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 06:32 [#02284368] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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 | The brain functions in exactly the same way as a computer, but a lot more sophisticated. The sensory input received by
 the brain on a minute-by-minute basis becomes vastly complex
 and enormously varied, shaped by an individuals culture and
 environment.
 
 This massive knowledge pool enables each individual to
 appear to have a unique mind, unique personality - but that
 is completely superficial.
 
 The fact is, we are carbon copies, automatons and, unless
 mentally disabled, all of us function in exactly the same
 way - there is no uniqueness there at all.
 
 Furthermore, any intellectual input is completely
 meaningless. There is no such thing as British, Asian,
 Atheist, Monk, Christian, it's a complete
 fabrication/invention of the mind - you're nothing. Your
 life is meaningless and valueless over and above what nature
 intended - for you to procreate.
 
 Still, we have to do something with our time, so we have to
 induldge in this world of complete fantasy, where thoughts
 and ideas are actually supposed to mean something. Of
 course, they don't.
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 06:34 [#02284369] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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 | That's why self-importance, in any field, is utterly preposterous.
 
 
 
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         |  mohamed
             from the turtle business on 2009-04-06 07:20 [#02284381] Points: 31593 Status: Regular | Followup to Barcode: #02284369 | Show recordbag
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 | you always try to explain something that can be understood only by living
 
 
 
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         |  Tractern
             from Brighton (United Kingdom) on 2009-04-06 07:21 [#02284382] Points: 4210 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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 | Surely there is no harm in looking into other religions. just find one you think will make you happier and then begin
 to practice when your family are not around, or when you
 move out or something.
 
 How old are you, out of curiosity? Surely if you are of a
 certain age, your family won't ostracise you, or do anything
 too bad, as they will repsect your right as a mature
 individual to have whatever beliefs you like!
 
 I am sure I don't fully understand what your situation is
 and I am making it sound easier than it really is for you.
 Therefore, please explain a little more about your family
 backround.
 
 
 
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         |  Exaph
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 07:22 [#02284384] Points: 3718 Status: Lurker
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 | "Perception is reality" — Paul Rand. 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 07:24 [#02284386] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker | Followup to : #02284372
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 | Isn't Occam's razor the principle of deconstruction? That's precisely what I'm doing, telling you in the simplest of
 terms that you're a machine, you're not unique, and anything
 you superimpose above eating, sleeping and fucking is
 completely meaningless. What could be simpler than that?
 
 
 
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         |  Raz0rBlade_uk
             on 2009-04-06 07:52 [#02284394] Points: 12540 Status: Addict | Followup to Exaph: #02284384 | Show recordbag
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 | i'm glad you quoted that 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 08:00 [#02284395] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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 | Perception with the physical eye only. 
 
 
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         |  Monoid
             from one source all things depend on 2009-04-06 11:23 [#02284420] Points: 11012 Status: Lurker
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 | If you compare the human brain with a computer, you got the intelligence of a pocket calculator (a very cheap one)
 
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 11:54 [#02284427] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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 | Pfff, what you call YOU isn't even real, let alone legitimate.
 
 Through the sophistication of thought you are enabled to
 shaped an opinion about yourself that is entirely false and
 your self-imposed insecurity leads you to fear the opinions
 of others which are also entirely false.
 
 So you are pitifully motivated or accomplished - so what?
 Who says you have to be motivated? Maybe you don't even want
 a job. What do you want by the way? That's all that is
 important. What you want, not what others want for you.
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 12:23 [#02284436] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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 | You're pretty fucked up aren't you? Get back to basics for god sake.
 
 
 
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         |  TroutMask
             from New York City (United States) on 2009-04-06 12:23 [#02284437] Points: 472 Status: Regular
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 | Perception is awareness acquired through the senses, into valid concepts that identify the facts of reality.
 
 A=A
 A thing is itself. It can only be one thing at one time.
 
 
 
 
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         |  earthleakage
             from tell the world you're winning on 2009-04-06 12:24 [#02284438] Points: 27859 Status: Regular
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 | your original statement is false logic. so no. 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-06 13:03 [#02284447] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker
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 | the brain is more similar to a hologram than a computer 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-06 13:07 [#02284448] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker | Followup to TroutMask: #02284437
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 | "A=A A thing is itself. It can only be one thing at one time."
 
 then what's to separate something from say what it was 10
 minutes ago and what it is now?  it's different.
 tautologies are static and can't admit change or becoming.
 
 
 
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         |  glasse
             from Harrisburg (United States) on 2009-04-06 13:18 [#02284452] Points: 4211 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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 | so our realities are like complex hologram projections that aren't just interpreting matter/energy "data" but actually
 constructing an environment from it..
 
 and also we have no higher purpose other than eating,
 sleeping, and shitting and anything above that is
 superimposed..
 
 i think just the idea that we actually co-generate an
 environment in which to live does more than imply something
 more to thought and consciousness than just something
 superimposed.
 
 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-06 13:22 [#02284453] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker
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 | the mind (and the whole nervous system since it's an extension of the brain) acts as an 'analogue' to the world,
 which it is specially tuned (through evolution) to pick up.
 really you're in a wash of noise, all sorts of
 electromagnetic radiation and radiowaves etc. all over the
 place, but because of the specialized structure of your
 physiology, you're able to perceive things.
 
 
 
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         |  glasse
             from Harrisburg (United States) on 2009-04-06 13:34 [#02284459] Points: 4211 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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 | yea, it's neat how that all worked out so well. 
 everything is just neat, and that is its purpose.  the
 higher purpose is to take a minute and just say
 cool.
 
 
 
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         |  TroutMask
             from New York City (United States) on 2009-04-06 13:46 [#02284463] Points: 472 Status: Regular | Followup to mappatazee: #02284448
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 | Context. 
 Something presently, and something from ten minutes ago, are
 different things.
 
 
 
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         |  QRDL
             from Poland on 2009-04-06 13:48 [#02284466] Points: 2838 Status: Lurker | Followup to : #02284450
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 | Nah, I'm pretty much in the same point right now. Since that fucking salvia experiment all the questions that I learned
 to ignore over the years came back, but wherever I go with
 the though, in a matter of a couple of steps I always face
 the oldest question of why anything exists rather than
 nothing. All the religions, as far as I know, give only
 makeshift answers to that if any. More so they tend to add
 an unjustifiable claim of the desirability of eteral
 existence.
 I was advised to read Hume, gonna rent some of his works as
 soon as possible.
 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-06 13:50 [#02284467] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker
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 | then where/when is it ever the same thing? 
 
 
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         |  TroutMask
             from New York City (United States) on 2009-04-06 13:55 [#02284469] Points: 472 Status: Regular | Followup to mappatazee: #02284467
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 | Never. 
 
 
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         |  fleetmouse
             from Horny for Truth on 2009-04-06 14:08 [#02284481] Points: 18042 Status: Lurker
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 | Objectivists don't understand the difference between states of affairs and statements about states of affairs. They
 think logic applies to physical reality, not to language. In
 this, they are identical to presuppositionalist Christians
 of the Van Til - Bahnsen - Plantinga variety. Constantly
 confusing induction, deduction and physics.
 
 
 
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         |  fleetmouse
             from Horny for Truth on 2009-04-06 14:10 [#02284483] Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to QRDL: #02284466
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 | Chapter 9 of this is the best of Hume on induction. The rest of the book is good too but this is the
 money shot.
 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-06 14:25 [#02284486] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker | Followup to TroutMask: #02284469
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| 
     
 
 | so A never equals A? :) 
 
 
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         |  larn
             from PLANET E (United Kingdom) on 2009-04-06 15:37 [#02284504] Points: 5476 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
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| 
     
 
 | All of your emotions and feelings are produced by various chemicals in your brain. emotions being merely chemicals
 processed in an organic computer like brain makes some
 people feel hopeless of being special, but this would be a
 mistake. Don't become despondent, we are still special, we
 can still process complex feelings and emotions which are
 valuable to us subjectively. Most of the time we are not
 introspective and aware of this as a physical process and
 who cares how this process works anyway? The fact of the
 matter is that it works well and it helps us to be creative
 inspire others.. and build things
 
 The technicians who built the first computers were obviously
 influenced by their own minds in which they built a machine
 that processes/stores/interacts and so on. that's why they
 seem similar to us in their operation.
 
 Even if science can completely explain how our brains work,
 does that disprove us being special or spiritual? i'm not
 saying i believe in God, just stating that if God were real,
 there is nothing wrong with humans tinkering with his
 reality and how it works.
 
 There is actually a part of your brain dedicated to thinking
 metaphysically, try to be more positive about it because if
 you start to see it negatively it will only get worse.
 
 I too was born into a christian family and i spent years
 trying to understand the nature of reality, only to find
 many paradoxes along the way. I still to this day have
 moments of confusion about what is real. but as you get
 older you find a more solid view point and things get
 easier.
 
 regards
 
 Larn
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-06 16:07 [#02284507] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker | Followup to larn: #02284504
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 | "Special", compared to what? 
 
 
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         |  Cliff Glitchard
             from DEEP DOWN INSIDE on 2009-04-06 16:26 [#02284509] Points: 4166 Status: Lurker
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 | perception is nine tenths of the law. 
 
 
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         |  Sandy
             from Morocco (Morocco) on 2009-04-06 19:19 [#02284536] Points: 1493 Status: Regular | Followup to Cliff Glitchard: #02284509
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 | i thought it was deception... 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  fleetmouse
             from Horny for Truth on 2009-04-06 21:39 [#02284541] Points: 18042 Status: Lurker
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 | fart penis 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Fah
             from Netherlands, The on 2009-04-06 22:37 [#02284547] Points: 6428 Status: Regular
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 | i woke Retape up with a morning fart last weekend 
 
 
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         |  cygnus
             from nowhere and everyplace on 2009-04-07 00:10 [#02284552] Points: 11923 Status: Lurker
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 | the mind is a constituent element of the universe. whats wrong is that the mind has developed a sense of time.
 suddenly we are no longer constitutents of the universe, but
 meaningless, mortal fragments suspended between "life" and
 "death", allowed a few short-lived pleasures followed by
 pain and ultimate annihilation. this is not true. what is
 true is that there is no end and beginning to us, we have
 been here all along. we are eternal
 
 just remember - you and that computer you're typing on were
 forged in a giant, burning radioactive magnet suspended in a
 vacuum at one point. how does that make you feel
 
 
 
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         |  Raz0rBlade_uk
             on 2009-04-07 02:27 [#02284562] Points: 12540 Status: Addict | Show recordbag
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 | i've had some crazy ideas about consciousness and perception. the words fractal and tessellating come to mind.
 chaos, infinity, shrinking and expanding at an exponential
 rate. all possibility and none all at once divided by
 itself, always with recurring numbers. the now being all of
 that squeezed down a thin tube, all linking up and layering
 over like a zoetrope, resulting in a very unique, very
 individual perception of reality.
 
 
 
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         |  Raz0rBlade_uk
             on 2009-04-07 02:28 [#02284563] Points: 12540 Status: Addict | Show recordbag
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 | i say i've had, but more it's the ideas have had me! 
 
 
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         |  larn
             from PLANET E (United Kingdom) on 2009-04-07 03:34 [#02284570] Points: 5476 Status: Regular | Followup to Barcode: #02284507 | Show recordbag
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| 
     
 
 | well I can confidently say that human beings are the most complex life form or carbon based entity in the known
 universe. we don't know what else is out there, but the
 universe is astronomically expansive and the laws that
 govern it are intricate and very powerful. We have a planet
 that can sustain life with all the elements/chemicals
 required, with just enough heat and a right sized moon to
 keep the earth on a 23 degree axis allowing the seasons to
 change through the year.
 
 With all the variables we need to have a planet to sustain
 complex life like ours the odds of it even being possible
 are staggering, i would have more chance of hitting a royal
 flush 5 times in a row.
 
 It just so happens that we are positioned on one of the
 outward spiral arms of the galaxy so that we can observe the
 whole system with our observatory equipment. This enables us
 to learn how the universe operates and gives us a chance to
 understand our physical reality.
 
 even if we are power hungry, greedy, perverted masturbators
 we still have a beautiful planet and universe to explore
 which i think makes us special. You could compare it to
 another part of the galaxy were giant slugs are trying
 desperately to find food but can't move fast because of the
 heavy gravity and intense heat...
 
 
 
 
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         |  cx
             from Norway on 2009-04-07 04:32 [#02284575] Points: 4537 Status: Regular
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| 
     
 
 | Barcode, you are oversimpiflying immensely. First off, nobody has given a scientific theory for the
 phenomena of consciousness. There is a gap between
 consciousness and the neurons, atoms, brain and physical
 systems.
 This gap is so vast that we will never in our lifetime get
 close to closing it.
 
 It's funny then, that this very consciousness is the root of
 everything a person experiences. We have to assume a
 physical reality exists, but we can in no way prove it.
 Everything we create, say, think and do stems from this
 consciousness we have. Complex abstract thoughts make up the
 very fabric of existence.
 And you are trying to say none of that means anything, and
 that it's all a fantasy, when you don't even know why or how
 it all exists?
 
 But here's some food for thought for you barcode..
 Assume that what you say is true, wouldn't that mean that
 all these fantasies and dreamworlds we have created, would
 still be created by the universe, and not by us?
 We didn't create our consciousness, the universe did.
 Why did it do that?
 And also why shouldn't our thoughts mean something to us
 subjectively when they can? Is suicide the only real option?
 Or should we create our reality when we can, our society,
 why go for apathy and nihilism?
 
 
 
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         |  dariusgriffin
             from cool on 2009-04-07 04:45 [#02284576] Points: 12516 Status: Lurker | Followup to cx: #02284575
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| 
     
 
 | Assume that what you say is true, wouldn't that mean that
 all these fantasies and dreamworlds we have created, would
 still be created by the universe, and not by us?
 The conditions that made you create these fantasies were
 created with the universe.
 
 We didn't create our consciousness, the universe did.
 Why did it do that?
 It happened randomly.
 
 And also why shouldn't our thoughts mean something to us
 subjectively when they can? Is suicide the only real
 option?
 Or should we create our reality when we can, our society,
 why go for apathy and nihilism?
 dunno
 
 
 
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         |  cx
             from Norway on 2009-04-07 05:46 [#02284582] Points: 4537 Status: Regular
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| 
     
 
 | 'dunno' doesnt exactly answer anything :P 
 
 
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         |  mohamed
             from the turtle business on 2009-04-07 05:46 [#02284583] Points: 31593 Status: Regular | Followup to mappatazee: #02284486 | Show recordbag
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| 
     
 
 | YOU WIN. 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  dariusgriffin
             from cool on 2009-04-07 06:55 [#02284593] Points: 12516 Status: Lurker | Followup to cx: #02284582
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 | I'm just not sure what you're asking. You just do what you do.
 
 
 
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         |  mappatazee
             from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2009-04-07 08:30 [#02284603] Points: 14302 Status: Lurker | Followup to larn: #02284570
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| 
     
 
 | how do you define the most 'complex'?  potatoes have more genes than humans.
 
 
 
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         |  cx
             from Norway on 2009-04-07 08:49 [#02284604] Points: 4537 Status: Regular | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02284593
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| 
     
 
 | Well it was in response to barcode. He said it's all meaningless and that everything we do and
 believe in is fantasy and maybe not even worth doing.
 I asked why is this the case, who decides whats worth what
 and why/how
 
 
 
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         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-07 09:49 [#02284609] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker | Followup to cx: #02284604
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| 
     
 
 | Nobody decides what's worth anything, because there isn't anybody to decide.
 
 Try and understand, what YOU call YOU doesn't even exist.
 Your physical body exists, but the labels you give yourself,
 whether they be your name, religion, beliefs etc., are
 completely false and have no meaning beyond identification.
 
 
 As darisugriffin mentions, it appears as though the universe
 created our species randomly - what makes you think there is
 any design or purpose?
 
 When you know something you don't have to believe in it,
 when you dont know something then faith or belief will not
 show any evidence of whatever is not known to exist.
 Therefore belief is pure romanticism.
 
 Just accept the truth. Your only meaning or value to nature
 is to reproduce, once you have done that you are better off
 dead where the worms can feed from your dead carcass.
 
 Your only meaning or value to another human being is to
 fulfil them in some way. If you have nothing to offer then
 nobody is the slightest bit interested in you. To perpetuate
 that, and to give this life more meaning, to avoid the
 ghastly boredom of living in a Western society, man has
 invented a plethora of idelogies based on nothing. It's a
 fairytale existence, and you best go along for the ride -
 the alternative is even more misery.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Barcode
             from United Kingdom on 2009-04-07 10:03 [#02284615] Points: 1767 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | AND ANOTHER THING... what's all this talk of nihilism!?? I am offering you the complete opposite of nihilism.
 
 Belief IS confusion, religion IS fear, ambition IS pressure.
 That stress will lead you to an early grave.
 
 When you negate all of that, what is left? A relaxed mind,
 at peace with itself and living in total clarity. You accept
 everything for what it is and find joy in the simplest of
 pleasures. You are no longer a dumb, manipulated sheep,
 pushed and prodded by society all over the place to satisfy
 their lust to take advantage out of you and pickpocket your
 intellect.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Raz0rBlade_uk
             on 2009-04-07 10:17 [#02284621] Points: 12540 Status: Addict | Followup to Barcode: #02284609 | Show recordbag
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| 
     
 
 | there isn't anybody to decide? are you denying that people exist?
 
 you draw a different definition between YOU and your body.
 isn't YOU the sum of all, body and brain combined (brain
 being mind)
 
 sidenote. did you know that the body doesn't need the brain
 for certain reflexes. for example, if you have your hand
 over a flame. the message for you to move your hand is built
 into the body and needs no message from the brain to perform
 the function.
 
 you say a name is false. nothing more than identification.
 what was it ever more than identification?
 
 i think that to know something is to believe in it. i know
 that when i drop a ball it will fall to the ground. i know
 it will happen and i believe it will happen. as if for a
 moment doubt is brought into me when the ball is in my hand,
 my knowledge may become uncertain but my belief that it will
 fall is my conviction of how certain i am of my reality. a
 lot of the time though beliefs are outside of provable
 realms of daily existence and thus i am tempted to call them
 unknowable and unbelievable. i could tell you that last
 night i had a dream about a clown. you have no way of
 proving that and i have no way of proving it. whilst i don't
 remember any dream i had last night, it would be possible
 for me to convince myself that it actually happened and will
 be able to make you believe too indeed that a clown appeared
 in my dreams.
 
 you speak of nature. before you said that YOU don't exist.
 are you not a product of nature. are you not in some
 respects a part of nature, just like how a rose is a part of
 a plant? what does nature really want? do things not only
 replicate if and as much as possible as they can. do we not
 have this quality to thank for this conversation now?
 
 talk to me more about value and worth. 'nature' seems to
 have a drive towards replication but where would we be
 without knowledge of agriculture. if there is information
 that helps keep life sustainable then surely you can say
 this has value.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  fleetmouse
             from Horny for Truth on 2009-04-07 10:32 [#02284626] Points: 18042 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | And then a demon came and ate the amateur epistemologists. 
 A demon named Cuddles.
 
 
 
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