Just A New Fractal Detail In The Big Picture (2015)

Re:Just A New Fractal Detail In The Big Picture (2015) by mdpopescu on Monday July 04, 2016 @05:44AM (#12029678)

Unfortunately, this argument proves too much. Replace "and colony" with "human" and "ant" with "cell in a human body" - can you explain where the consciousness experienced by a human cell colony arises from?

(To avoid debating materialism vs idealism use another creature, say "chimp", instead of "human" - assuming that you agree that chimps have a consciousness.)

I am not fond of the holistic / emergent idea but I don't think "we can't figure out the exact place where the sum becomes larger than its parts" is a good argument against it.

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Re:Just A New Fractal Detail In The Big Picture (2015) by jameshart on Monday July 04, 2016 @10:43AM (#12031049)

Hofstadter's anteater is a character in a dialog. You shouldn't assume it presents the author's conclusions directly. Indeed the point of the anteater is that with respect to ants, it's hardly an impartial source.

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Re:Just A New Fractal Detail In The Big Picture (2015) by Joof on Monday July 04, 2016 @11:22AM (#12031256)

A simpler type of holism might simply state that information generated by a system is distinct from the individuals that compose that system. Bits form a computer, but only in groups.

Its more complicated with businesses because we are aware of the greater system and attempt to influence it.

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