Would it be evil to build a functional brain inside a computer?

Re:Would it be evil to build a functional brain inside a com... by unclebucknasty on Friday July 05, 2013 @09:12PM (#5997498)

Have we even answered the question, "what is consciousness"? Isn't this along the lines of "what is the meaning of life"?

Because, if we haven't answered it, then it seems that the best we could do is build a simulation which displays some or many of the properties that we associate with consciousness.

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Re:Would it be evil to build a functional brain inside a com... by jes5199 on Saturday July 06, 2013 @12:01AM (#5997898)

No, but, there are people coming up with theories on how to quantify and measure it anyway. For example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Information_Theory

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Re:Would it be evil to build a functional brain inside a com... by hobs on Friday July 05, 2013 @09:48PM (#5997588)

Yeah, two things on that: 1. I know we are making leaps and bounds with computers, but we simply do not understand ourselves enough to make a copy of it. If you say that we can just simulate the physical capabilities to the atomic level, good luck to you. 2. So many questions about an electronic brain and yet it will (for a long time) have plenty less brain cells than a cow or a cuttlefish, and yet we kill and eat both every day(Delicious meat, I must eat).

So, when does the cow end and a human computer program begin? Do we need humane programming practices?

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