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Ask a physicist anything. (6)

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Doveaman

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My brain is constantly firing and firing and firing, so patterns exhibited now are just a consequence of patterns fired just now, which were caused by patterns fired a moment ago, etc.
Are you saying that the firing patterns created to keep our heart beating can also lead to the creation of another set of firing patterns that enable us to think about having pizza tomorrow for breakfast?

How can one firing pattern lead to another unrelated firing pattern? Is it done by the EM field or something?
Again, it's all from pre-existing patterns. Studies have been done which show that you 'choose' to walk after the brain has already begun moving the muscles to begin walking. It chose to walk because its algorithms and instinctive and learned behaviours lead to another instance of the pattern, 'walk'.

Right now, my brain thinks its good to perform the patterns that lead to me typing this post. Patterns upon patterns upon patterns.
I'm thinking there is some kind of intelligent mechanism in the brain that controls how, when and where those patterns are fired. After all, we are intelligent beings and not robots. :)
 
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Doveaman

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There is absolutely no reason why machines cannot be made to have self recognition and awareness and thus be classified as sentient beings. After all both machines and living things are basically made up of the very same elements that make up the universe.
What about free will, do machines have that too? Can they ever have that?
 
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chris4243

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What about free will, do machines have that too? Can they ever have that?

Yup! Machines already have free will, though it depends on how you define free will. You could define free will in such a way to specifically exclude machines. Or you could define free will in such a way as to make it logically impossible. But by sensible definitions, machines can have free will.
 
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Doveaman

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Yup! Machines already have free will, though it depends on how you define free will. You could define free will in such a way to specifically exclude machines. Or you could define free will in such a way as to make it logically impossible. But by sensible definitions, machines can have free will.
Does this mean machines can do what they were not programmed to do and still be considered as functioning the way they were supposed to function? Would the machine be functioning normal if it only did what it was not programmed to do?
 
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chris4243

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Does this mean machines can do what they were not programmed to do and still be considered as functioning the way they were supposed to function? Would the machine be functioning normal if it only did what it was not programmed to do?

If you can machines can too! Can you do something you were not programmed to do?
 
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mzungu

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What about free will, do machines have that too? Can they ever have that?
If you watch the documentary from my previous post it will answer many of your questions. Yes I believe machines can have free will. Many life forms do not have free will as they are basically programmed to follow instinct. This does not mean they are not alive. Likewise a machine that has self awareness and sentience will have free will but this is not a prerequisite for it to be designated as a life form.

Please understand that life does not necessarily have to be biological.

Watch the documentary in full. It has nothing to do with religion so there is nothing in there to make you feel bad. :clap:

Here is the link, enjoy: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/future-intelligence/
 
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mzungu

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Is a theory still a theory, after it has been falsified?

For example, is Phlogiston theory still a theory?

How is the evidence that led to a falsified theory treated?
The Phlogiston theory was not a scientific theory as it could not explain the facts and evidences. Only after Lavoisier recognised phlogiston as an element that was named Oxygen did phlogiston go the way of the dodo. Science was at its infancy back then and the rules governing how scientific endeavour should function were non existent at that time.

Today science has sets and rules that it abides to in order to function. So the term theory during the days of phlogiston was not the same as it is meant in the scientific world. It was used in the same term as in literature as speculation or something unproven.

Science is an ever evolving thing. It grows as knowledge grows. Just as we humans started of as mere babes hardly able to fend for ourselves and are now adults holding our destiny in our own hands.

You may find the documentary interesting as it shows what life will be like in the near future. :wave:
 
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sandwiches

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The Phlogiston theory was not a scientific theory as it could not explain the facts and evidences. Only after Lavoisier recognised phlogiston as an element that was named Oxygen did phlogiston go the way of the dodo. Science was at its infancy back then and the rules governing how scientific endeavour should function were non existent at that time.

Today science has sets and rules that it abides to in order to function. So the term theory during the days of phlogiston was not the same as it is meant in the scientific world. It was used in the same term as in literature as speculation or something unproven.

Science is an ever evolving thing. It grows as knowledge grows. Just as we humans started of as mere babes hardly able to fend for ourselves and are now adults holding our destiny in our own hands.

You may find the documentary interesting as it shows what life will be like in the near future. :wave:

We could call it a falsified hypothesis.
 
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AV1611VET

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The Phlogiston theory was not a scientific theory as it could not explain the facts and evidences. Only after Lavoisier recognised phlogiston as an element that was named Oxygen did phlogiston go the way of the dodo. Science was at its infancy back then and the rules governing how scientific endeavour should function were non existent at that time.

Today science has sets and rules that it abides to in order to function. So the term theory during the days of phlogiston was not the same as it is meant in the scientific world. It was used in the same term as in literature as speculation or something unproven.

Science is an ever evolving thing. It grows as knowledge grows. Just as we humans started of as mere babes hardly able to fend for ourselves and are now adults holding our destiny in our own hands.

You may find the documentary interesting as it shows what life will be like in the near future. :wave:

We could call it a falsified hypothesis.
Thanks, guys! :wave:
 
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Assyrian

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Is a theory still a theory, after it has been falsified?

For example, is Phlogiston theory still a theory?

How is the evidence that led to a falsified theory treated?
How about Fred Hoyle's Steady State Theory?
 
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Wiccan_Child

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Are you saying that the firing patterns created to keep our heart beating can also lead to the creation of another set of firing patterns that enable us to think about having pizza tomorrow for breakfast?
More or less. The specific case of the heart is a little different, because a heart's beating is regulated primarily inside the heart; the brain only sends signals to alter the beating frequency as and when it needs to.

How can one firing pattern lead to another unrelated firing pattern? Is it done by the EM field or something?
One firing pattern doesn't. Think of it like a computer: you have all sorts of cascading algorithms and "If A, then B, else C. If B, then D, else E. If C, then F, else G..." loops. The brain probably has something similar, only far more complex. Patterns in patterns criss-crossing and causing new, related patterns. An extension to the leg is followed by a contraction, so the 'extend leg' pattern will end with a 'begin contracting leg' pattern.

I'm thinking there is some kind of intelligent mechanism in the brain that controls how, when and where those patterns are fired. After all, we are intelligent beings and not robots. :)
There's a difference? ;)

Maxwell511, the Contributor, must be proud of his long thread. Although he seldom contributes to it.
smile.gif
Well, *cough*, the original thread was mine :p (4) got closed, so Maxwell made (5) when he wanted to ask a question.

I'm also pleased that the new thread is called (6), instead of "Ask a physicist anything. (5) (2)"!
 
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