What is Consciousness and can it ever be copied?

[futuretalk]

What is Consciousness and can it ever be copied? Opinion by Dick Pelletier

Of course today, scientists can only speculate these issues, but within 25 years, it is expected that consciousness will be much better understood.

Many forward-thinkers see this elusive human trait as an emergent property of classical computer-like activities in the brain’s neural networks. Views range as follows: 1- patterns of neural network activities correlate with mental states, 2- synchronous network oscillations in the thalamus and cerebral cortex temporarily bind information, and 3- consciousness emerges as a novel property of computational complexity among neurons.

If any of these views prove correct, it may be possible in the future – mid-2030s to mid-2040s or so – to replace biological neurons with powerful indestructible nanomaterial; then, using quantum computers to analyze the monumental data load, observe the 100 billion neurons and their trillion glial support cells, which influence the 100 trillion or so synapses (connections between neurons).

Once this analysis is performed, which would include correlating neuron activities with all thoughts, emotions, memories, and physical actions; simulations of historical and future neuron interactions could be created and transferred as a consciousness into a new “housing unit.” The cloned copy would be a replicated mind and body indiscernible from the deceased person. In fact, people going through this procedure would not even be aware they had died.

This writer believes that one day; humans will enjoy life in a non-biological body free from sickness, disease, and aging, but would still be at risk for violence and accidents. With the ability to copy consciousness, all unwanted deaths will be eliminated. If civilization buys the concept that human life is truly our most valuable commodity, then this “magical future” could become reality.

[sman]

Originally Posted by futuretalk

Once this analysis is performed, which would include correlating neuron activities with all thoughts, emotions, memories, and physical actions; simulations of historical and future neuron interactions could be created and transferred as a consciousness into a new “housing unit.” The cloned copy would be a replicated mind and body indiscernible from the deceased person. In fact, people going through this procedure would not even be aware they had died.

This is dualism. The belief that the mind is separate from the brain. I was going to WIKI dualism, but the article was not what I wanted. Dualism (philosophy of mind) adresses what I'm refering to. In most cases the word can be replaced with spirtiualism, but lately on these forums I've seen it approached from computer science - completely sterile of spiritualism.

We can (in theory) copy the machinery of the brain. Even in a different medium - silicone chips instead of neurons, they do similar things, that's fine. But what we've done here is made a human mind, not an indivdual human that already exists in another medium.

There are some controverseys that will arise. For instance, do we copy, bit for bit and logic gate for logic gate, all the stuff in my brain that induces me to argue with my wife about unimportant things and perpetuate the argument because for some reason it's more important that I'm right than our closest collective approximation of the matter? Can't we just leave that stuff out? But, if we did, it wouldn't be exactly me. Me, but not stubborn and pig headed would be a far cry from me.

Furthermore, I don't have to die. I can be kept alive alongside this thing, even if it is an exact data replica of me, my memories, beliefs...etc. I can have conversations with it. The two of us can argue to my wife's amusement. At no point is it nessesary to transfer my consciousness into the machine. It should just function by itself, the same way I function.

Originally Posted by futuretalk

This writer believes that one day; humans will enjoy life in a non-biological body free from sickness, disease, and aging, but would still be at risk for violence and accidents. With the ability to copy consciousness, all unwanted deaths will be eliminated. If civilization buys the concept that human life is truly our most valuable commodity, then this “magical future” could become reality.

Again, just leave violence and accidents out of the recipe. But then again, it wouldn't be exactly human without these things.