Well I think the problem with the idea of "self-conscious consciousness" is not one that can be solved, since its premise is irrational. It's like trying to ask what the last number of an infinite set of numbers is. It would be impossible for a conscious being to *directly* examine its own consciousness, because it would involve an infintie regression of examinations (similar to the way a self-referencing computer program will enter an infinite loop, and thus never finish executing).
Again, I think many atheists are fearful and angry towards religion and magical thinking is because they personally made the journey from ground zero and the ugliness. It's like a badly burned survivor of Hiroshima crawling out and for years later emotionally arguing with the people who build more nuclear bombs.
The Moravec Library reminds me of Borges' "The Library of Babel." A virtually infinite amount of gobbledygook-nonsense, but yet everything ever written -- to be written -- is contained therein.
It's an iconic story (along with "The Aleph.") An infinite library, books are filled with every possible combination of 26 letters plus a few punctuation symbols. So most is gibberish, yet every book ever written is contained. As well as "imaginary" books never written, and books YET to be written. It gives one a giddy sense of infinity. (I'll look for the story you mentioned.)
I'm really patting myself on the back right now for doing whatever I did to evoke an hour's worth of kickass material from you on all my favorite topics. thanks Bob!
Bob, I always say to myself, "I'll not sit there for 20 minutes for any youtube video.." But eventually, maybe while cleaning my house or cleaning my gun,...doing something... you speak in the background...I listen...it's great. Good stuff, Bob. This prompted me to condiser things which would have otherwise never been pondered. Viva MetaBob!
Awesome, MetaBob! If this was torture, I'm a masochist. In my ears, "faith" has only a minimal religious connotation; it has much more a strong vibe of well-grounded (or, in a Wattsian sense, well-floating) optimism. I'd like to join wawrulez in thanking and further incouraging you.
Ages past, people were born, lived wholesome lives, died and were buried, empire's rose and fell, stars were born and...well you get the idea...this is LOOONG. Intresting stuff though
"Ages past, people were born, lived wholesome lives, died and were buried, empire's rose and fell, stars were born" ...while I kept talking? Yup, that's about it. So I guess there is a purpose for eternity. = ])
Well I think the problem with the idea of "self-conscious consciousness" is not one that can be solved, since its premise is irrational. It's like trying to ask what the last number of an infinite set of numbers is. It would be impossible for a conscious being to *directly* examine its own consciousness, because it would involve an infintie regression of examinations (similar to the way a self-referencing computer program will enter an infinite loop, and thus never finish executing).
ivanisavich 4 years ago
This is good stuff.
Again, I think many atheists are fearful and angry towards religion and magical thinking is because they personally made the journey from ground zero and the ugliness. It's like a badly burned survivor of Hiroshima crawling out and for years later emotionally arguing with the people who build more nuclear bombs.
Castaa 4 years ago
I find myself laughing a lot whenever you pull a face in mockery of some theist apologist or other. (:
MrFlimsy 4 years ago
Laugh it up, my friend. YOU'LL PAY DEARLY IN THE AFTERLIFE!!!
MetaBob 4 years ago
The Moravec Library reminds me of Borges' "The Library of Babel." A virtually infinite amount of gobbledygook-nonsense, but yet everything ever written -- to be written -- is contained therein.
StevenErnest 4 years ago
That's so weird; I'd never heard of "The Library of Babel," but I was planning to do a vid featuring Borges' "The Lottery in Babylon." Weird, weird.
MetaBob 4 years ago
It's an iconic story (along with "The Aleph.") An infinite library, books are filled with every possible combination of 26 letters plus a few punctuation symbols. So most is gibberish, yet every book ever written is contained. As well as "imaginary" books never written, and books YET to be written. It gives one a giddy sense of infinity. (I'll look for the story you mentioned.)
StevenErnest 4 years ago
Turns out "The Lottery in Babylon" is available on line. Just google it.
MetaBob 4 years ago
I'm really patting myself on the back right now for doing whatever I did to evoke an hour's worth of kickass material from you on all my favorite topics. thanks Bob!
blueadept111 4 years ago
You hyp-mo-tized/guilt-tripped me into it with your black, fathomless, yet weirdly entreating sunglass eyes. I had to get you off my back, man!
MetaBob 4 years ago
Bob, I always say to myself, "I'll not sit there for 20 minutes for any youtube video.." But eventually, maybe while cleaning my house or cleaning my gun,...doing something... you speak in the background...I listen...it's great. Good stuff, Bob. This prompted me to condiser things which would have otherwise never been pondered. Viva MetaBob!
clockworkhorrorshow 4 years ago
Awesome, MetaBob! If this was torture, I'm a masochist. In my ears, "faith" has only a minimal religious connotation; it has much more a strong vibe of well-grounded (or, in a Wattsian sense, well-floating) optimism. I'd like to join wawrulez in thanking and further incouraging you.
leporidus 4 years ago
Thank you. I love it when the tortured beg for more.
MetaBob 4 years ago
Great stuff Bob! Thank you for taking the time to share.
wawrulez 4 years ago
Ages past, people were born, lived wholesome lives, died and were buried, empire's rose and fell, stars were born and...well you get the idea...this is LOOONG. Intresting stuff though
Billy7766 4 years ago
"Ages past, people were born, lived wholesome lives, died and were buried, empire's rose and fell, stars were born" ...while I kept talking? Yup, that's about it. So I guess there is a purpose for eternity. = ])
MetaBob 4 years ago
I made a video response to this awesome video :)
Taking some time to come up, but yeah great video.
coaxx 4 years ago
Still no video. Is it coming?
MetaBob 4 years ago
I recorded it, but the problem is the codec, morgan mjpeg, expired, it costs 99 i think and i cant find it anywhere :/
im searching some more, torrents etc, so hold up.
coaxx 4 years ago
ok i bought the codec, all fixed
coaxx 4 years ago