Aware: Upload 9 Nov 202330 May 2024 But, not bit… Why we will never be saved in computers One of the more common posthumanist themes is that we can download ourselves into a computer matrix of some kind (and indeed that we may even be in a matrix) and live forever (or until the matrix dies). As a thought experiment, this serves to challenge our intuitions and raise interesting questions, which is what thought experiments are supposed to do. The trouble begins when we take it seriously as a real option. Substack Cognition Epistemology Metaphysics Philosophy Technology
Chocosophy Chocoholism 14 Jul 20126 Feb 2013 Who put the holism into chocoholism? Why, I did. Here’s why: As every First Philosopher has known since at least the fall of the Roman Empire, the universe is composed of four contrarieties. This is a fancy way of saying that there are four things that form opposites. This view… Read More
Biology Darwin and Blumenbach 28 Oct 200918 Sep 2017 I recently became aware that the probable originator of the “biological” species concept, which I prefer to call the Reproductive Isolation Species Conception*, or RISC, was Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752–1840). He presented this in his doctoral thesis On the natural varieties of mankind (1776), and I missed putting it in… Read More
Creationism and Intelligent Design A boycott of Synthese 19 Apr 201122 Apr 2011 Brian Leiter has suggested a professional boycott of the journal Synthese until they admit their error in the disclaimer case, and I am the contact for messages supporting it from publishing philosophers. Leiter says: I would urge all philosophers to stop submitting to Synthese; to withdraw any papers they have… Read More