Re: virus: Re: Technology (was manifest science)

Joe E. Dees (joedees@bellsouth.net)
Thu, 3 Jun 1999 02:42:51 -0500

Date sent:      	Wed, 2 Jun 1999 23:28:03 -0700 (PDT)
From:           	Dylan Durst <ddurst@levien.com>
To:             	virus@lucifer.com
Subject:        	Re: virus: Re: Technology (was manifest science)
Send reply to:  	virus@lucifer.com


> > > ...what is it, do you suppose, which differentiates the process of
> > > our consciousness from any other?
> > >
> > Dynamic interrelation and recursivity? Self(and other)-awareness,
> > self(and other)-consciousness and self(and other)-reference?
>
> So a brain's stack size and complexity is what creates
> self-awareness/consciousness/reference? At what level is the
> size/complexity not able to carry out the recursive process enough to
> count?
>
> - dylan
>
The product of the number of neurons and the number of their axonal/dendritic/synaptic connections, combined with the level of complexity by means of which they are interrelated, is empirically (barely) sufficient for rudimentary self-reference in the great apes, fully sufficient for explicit and abstract self-consciousness in humans, and insifficient in other terran species (with the possible exception of orcas and sperm whales).
> - - -
> Dylan Durst # ddurst@levien.com # ddurst@cats.ucsc.edu # dylan@haptek.com
> http://www.porter.ucsc.edu/~dsd # <-<--<---<----<----|---->---->--->-->->
>
>