RE: virus: Belief and Knowledge (was: The truth about faith)

David McFadzean (david@lucifer.com)
Thu, 11 Sep 1997 18:29:17 -0600


At 04:14 PM 9/11/97 -0700, Richard Brodie wrote:

>Exactly. Their behavior emerges from a set of instincts and abilities that
>have evolved over the eons to the extent that they support propagation of
>the genetic material. This emergent behavior simulates purposefulness well

You could just as easily be describing humans here.

>under ideal circumstances, but a simulation it is. Attributing more to it
>than that is committing the teleological fallacy, just like saying that
>genes are "really" selfish.

So where do you make the cut off point between intentional agents and
mindless robots? Do only humans have goals or only some humans? If you
saw a dolphin drowning in a fishnet would you be suckered into believing
that its simulated struggle to breathe was real? Do you believe what you
are saying or is this another test?

--
David McFadzean                 david@lucifer.com
Memetic Engineer                http://www.lucifer.com/~david/
Church of Virus                 http://www.lucifer.com/virus/