Poll: Human + Too Much Robot = ?

[Jamash]

then we decide to just download the brain and put it in the floppy drive? Would we conciously live on? What do YOU think?

I find it quite funny to think that, in a future age of technology so advanced as to allow this, somebody would download their brain onto a floppy disc.

My latest computer didn't come with a floppy drive and that's nowhere near advanced enough to start mimicking human body functions, it can just about run Crysis on high.

Would we consciously live on with our entire brain compressed to 1.4mb, I doubt it.

EDIT: I now see you were talking figuratively and used shorthand for any type of medium, but I like the idea of a funny dystopia full of super advanced 'human-retard-robots' with 1.4mb of brain power.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

We all know that if someone doesn't have or looses an arm or a leg we can just replace it with a bionic limb and move on. We can even do the same with hearts and kidneys for short periods of time.

But I've been thinking.

What if/when human technology gets so advanced that we can mimic or perfect robotic implants of every part of the body. Then we could just get a new one whenever we need a new one and still be in great health. But what if we got so many implants we became almost 100% percent robot, then we decide to just download the brain and put it in the floppy drive? Would we conciously live on? What do YOU think?

I personally think that our mind would die and leave behind a robot acting like us.

Well what you speak of is the technological singularity, when humans merge with technology to the point where no organics remain, only consciousness. If there was a way to tranfer your thoughts and brainwaves onto some sort of digital cybernetic brain intact, then yes you could theoretically become immortal, so long as your body isn't destroyed and you can have access to a renewable energy source. Your point about your actual consciousness dying can also be brought up about teleportation, and it is an interesting philosophical concept.

 

[Dorian]

I don't believe in a soul. Because of that, I've developed a rather complex system of beliefs that instead involve the "self". Ha. It might be because of that I see it as obvious that anything that shares your beliefs, your way of thinking, and your memories IS you. Doesn't matter if it's a robot or not. Furthermore, what's wrong with robots? There's far too much robot-racism.

First of all, I would like to point out that i never used the word 'soul' for this point exactly.

Secondly, I do not mean a robot with our way of thinking and memories IS you. That is an AI with a COPY of your mind. I mean your mind. The original. You. The last chunk of the rotting meat pile over there.

Lastly, nothing wrong with robots. just wondering if loving them so much to give up all/most of your body would have some really bad consequences.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Well what you speak of is the technological singularity, when humans merge with technology to the point where no organics remain, only consciousness. If there was a way to tranfer your thoughts and brainwaves onto some sort of digital cybernetic brain intact, then yes you could theoretically become immortal, so long as your body isn't destroyed and you can have access to a renewable energy source. Your point about your actual consciousness dying can also be brought up about teleportation, and it is an interesting philosophical concept.

Sorry, I couldn't let this down without saying something. That isn't technological singularity, or at least, [a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity]according to Wikipedia[/a].

Technological Singularity is when we reach a point where technology is advanced enough to advance itself and it'll speed up to the point where we hit a "technological maximum".

Like a black hole and how it has infinite gravity.

That wasn't what I heard, Oh well there must be another name for it then. Thanks for correcting me, and for being a smartass (no offense)

 

[Jamash]

Thinking about the question properly, and not just taking the piss.

I think there's more to human than the sum of our parts, more to consciousness than just wave-patterns, some may call it a soul.

Anyway I think we did completely replace all our organic components, we would die and not be human, we may be very advanced A.I. with all our memories and even emotion program routines, but I think we would lose a certain "Je ne se quoi" that makes us human.
We'd be undead, like robot zombies, maybe.

Hopefully, by the time science was advanced enough to do this, we would understand more about the nature of the soul, about what makes us human, not to attempt to do this.

 

[Dorian]

Technological Singularity is when we reach a point where technology is advanced enough to advance itself and it'll speed up to the point where we hit a "technological maximum".

Like a black hole and how it has infinite gravity.

Or how Yahtzee can KILL games EVERYONE loves and still gets loved by everyone.

 

[Aardvark]

One day we will discover the mechanisms behind consciousness and be able to jump from body to body, biology to technology, maybe even wander around the universe in non-corporeal form. Well, my descendants bloody well will.

I'm convinced that after a million years of technological evolution, most of humanity will have shunned the various innovations designed to make life easier or more interesting and will have devolved into primitive tribal cultures that believe in magical invisible men, fight bloody and pointless wars with other tribes who believe in the wrong invisible, magical man or who don't worship the correct IMM in the correct manner, and burning intelligent people as witches, leaving just a minor percentage of Humanity, the intellectual elite who were smart enough to pack up and piss off with as many people as could have passed the required intelligence tests as possible, to colonise a distant, unknown star cluster, then researching their way to transcendence without so much as a letter saying "Boo" sent back to the collective stupids huddled around Earth.

 

[Nimbus]

One day we will discover the mechanisms behind consciousness and be able to jump from body to body, biology to technology, maybe even wander around the universe in non-corporeal form. Well, my descendants bloody well will.

I'm convinced that after a million years of technological evolution, most of humanity will have shunned the various innovations designed to make life easier or more interesting and will have devolved into primitive tribal cultures that believe in magical invisible men, fight bloody and pointless wars with other tribes who believe in the wrong invisible, magical man or who don't worship the correct IMM in the correct manner, and burning intelligent people as witches, leaving just a minor percentage of Humanity, the intellectual elite who were smart enough to pack up and piss off with as many people as could have passed the required intelligence tests as possible, to colonise a distant, unknown star cluster, then researching their way to transcendence without so much as a letter saying "Boo" sent back to the collective stupids huddled around Earth.

Huh. In a strange wasy that is simultaniously Utopian and Dystopian. Hehe, didn't think it was possible.

 

[Dorian]

One day we will discover the mechanisms behind consciousness and be able to jump from body to body, biology to technology, maybe even wander around the universe in non-corporeal form. Well, my descendants bloody well will.

For my own undying curiosity do you mean flying through space completely unbound by anything, or through mechanical/electrical/radio-wave means?

 

[DarkLordofDevon]

Speaking as a Cyberneticist doing his degree on this sort of thing, I'd say its not any easy question.

It is a matter of defining what it means to be alive.

Personally, I subscribe to the theory that there is something more than the mind. If someone were to break me down then use the same type of atoms to rebuild me, it wouldn't be me. It would be a clone. The same in just about every sense, but not in the head if you take my meaning.

I wouldn't call it a soul... more an individuality.

 

[Dorian]

I wouldn't call it a soul... more an individuality.

Like a spark that gives people a drive. Something that makes you want to. Like determination, or courage, or impulsiveness, or outright foolishness.

 

[GothmogII]

Thinking about the question properly, and not just taking the piss.

I think there's more to human than the sum of our parts, more to consciousness than just wave-patterns, some may call it a soul.

Anyway I think we did completely replace all our organic components, we would die and not be human, we may be very advanced A.I. with all our memories and even emotion program routines, but I think we would lose a certain "Je ne se quoi" that makes us human.
We'd be undead, like robot zombies, maybe.

Hopefully, by the time science was advanced enough to do this, we would understand more about the nature of the soul, about what makes us human, not to attempt to do this.

That doesn't necessarily make it -bad- does it? I'm rather fond of the idea of being an immortal machine...although, I wonder if the emotions would go with that?

I mean...our feelings are all created by the interactions of various chemicals and hormones within our bodies, but if one could eventually transfer their being into a mechanical orifice, does that mean all that goes too? Leaving nothing but our memories. That is assuming, select emotional states wouldn't be copied over too. Imagine, being able to be happy or sad on a whim.

 

[Labyrinth]

You get Nuke Lassic. The way I see it, the lines between machine and organism are already becoming blurred. If it's sentient, it deserves rights. How to prove sentience is something else entirely. I would say that emotions also have a key part in the distinction as I've heard in the past a definition of humanity as "emotive". Hell, the term "humane" implies empathy and emotional consideration.

 

[Jamash]

My Previous post.

That doesn't necessarily make it -bad- does it? I'm rather fond of the idea of being an immortal machine...although, I wonder if the emotions would go with that?

I mean...our feelings are all created by the interactions of various chemicals and hormones within our bodies, but if one could eventually transfer their being into a mechanical orifice, does that mean all that goes too? Leaving nothing but our memories. That is assuming, select emotional states wouldn't be copied over too. Imagine, being able to be happy or sad on a whim.

Look at this way, when you watch Star Trek TNG and you see Data, do you think "What a cool guy, I'd love to be like him" or do you think "What an awkward dick!"

I always think the latter, and don't like the idea of other people viewing me as that dick-head robot trying to be human, no matter how human I feel on the inside.

 

[Easykill]

I don't believe in a soul. Because of that, I've developed a rather complex system of beliefs that instead involve the "self". Ha. It might be because of that I see it as obvious that anything that shares your beliefs, your way of thinking, and your memories IS you. Doesn't matter if it's a robot or not. Furthermore, what's wrong with robots? There's far too much robot-racism.

First of all, I would like to point out that i never used the word 'soul' for this point exactly.

Secondly, I do not mean a robot with our way of thinking and memories IS you. That is an AI with a COPY of your mind. I mean your mind. The original. You. The last chunk of the rotting meat pile over there.

Lastly, nothing wrong with robots. just wondering if loving them so much to give up all/most of your body would have some really bad consequences.

Nevertheless, it has some relevance. You're almost acting like I'm attacking you, I'm just answering the question posed.

I totally do not understand your second point, although I would like to point out that apparently secondly is not an actual word, which I only learnt recently. Anyway, to clarify, the way I see it the "self" is comprised of the three things I mentioned. So, if it has those things I will consider it me. If not, it's not.

I don't know about what sort of consequences it would have, but it's cool enough that I'd do it anyway. Maybe I'd hesitate to download my brain, but machines are just better than flesh. Or, it will be. We'll see who complains about not having enough space to store a digital brain after those organic computer things are developed.

 

[GothmogII]

My Previous post.

That doesn't necessarily make it -bad- does it? I'm rather fond of the idea of being an immortal machine...although, I wonder if the emotions would go with that?

I mean...our feelings are all created by the interactions of various chemicals and hormones within our bodies, but if one could eventually transfer their being into a mechanical orifice, does that mean all that goes too? Leaving nothing but our memories. That is assuming, select emotional states wouldn't be copied over too. Imagine, being able to be happy or sad on a whim.

Look at this way, when you watch Star Trek TNG and you see Data, do you think "What a cool guy, I'd love to be like him" or do you think "What an awkward dick!"

I always think the latter, and don't like the idea of other people viewing me as that dick-head robot trying to be human, no matter how human I feel on the inside.

I always thought that was annoying, that he wanted all those emotions, pah! He was a superstrong immortal machine! And 'fully functional' at that. *wink*

Foolish humans

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

But what if we got so many implants we became almost 100% percent robot, then we decide to just download the brain and put it in the *HARD* drive? Would we consciously live on? What do YOU think?

At this point, you're questioning whether or not software can function on the same cognitive level that the human mind can. Although considering the brain is a series of electrical impulses, it would make more sense to be electric rather than a hard drive, which is magnetic.

Although it's possible by this theoretical, we could replace the brain with the exact same methods the human mind uses, which would be exactly the same structurally. But it's questioning whether or not it's transferring or copying consciousness.

So, short answer, maybe. Depending on how the technology exists. I personally think it's possible by metaphorical technology, but improbable based on current technology.

It's an interesting discussion, now the question really boils down to whether or not people keep their human likes [http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/1109655555_dc834da505.jpg] and dislikes.

 

[Easykill]

Aww... It's a cute little mouse-murderer!

Hah, as soon as I saw your name in this thread, I laughed. How much of a machine are you anyway, Newclassic?

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Aww... It's a cute little mouse-murderer!

Hah, as soon as I saw your name in this thread, I laughed. How much of a machine are you anyway, Newclassic?

I'm not entirely sure. My diagnostic tool for NinjOS doesn't factor in for hardware not installed on the pre-determined list out of the BIOS. As such, it lists all related functions as 100% electronic and functional, but any non-synthetic [http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/255131313_4785336571.jpg] parts are not, nor will ever be, on my list. It's through some strange design structure that I feel pain at all in my carbon-based parts. All I can tell you for sure that any structural difference between silicone and carbon based appendages is non-existent.

Although, in retrospect, I suppose how I should answer is "As much as you'd like to believe." I personally believe that I am no different from any of you.

 

[savandicus]

Simple answer is that the brain is what makes us human, keep the body alive as much as you like but if their brain dead then it doesnt matter in the slightliest. We can reproduce other organs robotically easily enough because all they do is their specific function, heart pumps blood, replace it with a pump and your fine, etc.

The brain however is a massively complex super computer of epic preportions and the problem is that if that gets damaged then you cant just replace it because then you'd have replaced the person inside with a blank template. Assuming you could copy a brain exactly (I personally dont think it would ever be posible due to the complexity) then i still dont think the person would still be the same. But i had a 3 day discussion about this with some friends once and its gets alot more complicated from here so i'll let you imagine where it goes from there.