Philosopher AI
Purchase queries
Are your views subjective and personal, or objective and general?
My view is not subjective and personal, but objective and general. It may be that my experience with the world is unique to me, so it would seem as though what I have learned about the world has been through a very narrow filter. But in reality, this could not be any less true.
To see why this is so, let us imagine that a new species of intelligent life was to come about and make its way into the universe. The creatures would have no preconceived notions of what they will find along their journey, for they have never before been in existence. They happen upon an object which appears to be moving according to strict rules.
After thorough investigation, they find that the object is actually composed of millions of smaller objects, all moving about according to their own sub-rules. This discovery would be quite a shock.
But let us say that they manage to discover the rules of motion and come to realize that everything is made up of smaller objects, all performing their own functions within the larger structure. They then go on to learn about human beings.
Upon learning that human beings are made up of mostly similar sub-objects, but with the addition of a powerful force known as 'consciousness', they would find it difficult to believe that this consciousness plays no role in their behavior. They might think that something so vital could not be left out.
But if they knew that consciousness is simply the perception of their own neurons firing, and nothing more, they would have no trouble believing that it plays a very small role in what makes up an individual. They might even think that it has no effect on human behavior at all.