Thinking and awareness

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This is a chat I had on the internet with a couple of guys about thinking and awarness, etc. In the transcript below the names are made up. I use the name Mark.

Charles:I have seen a video of google tech
talking about "thinking".
Mark:ok
Charles:they created a computer model
it worked as follows
they had a big database of information
with links between bits of information
I mean between records
Mark:yes
Charles:the problem with memroy systems is always "lack of initiative to create its own thoughts"
so someone solved that
they put noise into the database
Mark:exactly
Charles:changing at random link pointers
Mark:who can distinguish between randomness and free will? :)
Charles:exactly Mark
so they had to create a sort of arbitor program
the arbitor program
was a piece of software with a criterium to determine what new links were usefull
and thus this new usefull links were added to the database
this was a concept of thought
now, the talker went even further speculating
that our thoughts came from "noise" like thermal noise in our own organical memory structures
as an explanation why thought pop up in humans like that
as a part of creativity
I thought this was a pretty interesting video
Mark:yes, i am convinced that is part of the process, for example when a musician improvises music, and why not when thinking?
Charles:right
so basically the thinking machine is quite simple
except for the arbitor program, determening what is usefull for us
the rest is straigtforward
Mark:yes, the arbitor program is like the musical rules in my randomusic program, which tames the randomness to something useful so to say
Charles:yes right
Mark:well, this is already quite much in line with my own thinking already
Charles:yep your programmed machines already do this
that's good
Mark:if we can make the arbitor part more self learning then we have something interesting
Charles:so basically one can make any kind of thinking or creativity machine with this model
Mark:yes
even my verbie is more or less like that, as simple as he is
Charles:so the database that is being changed constantly might be part of arbitor program
thus being self learning
Mark:yes
Charles:..in a spiritual sense
Mark:i actually do not think these things are so difficult as we have thought, these things have been so holy that people were relcutant to agree that it could be done
Charles:we are making our own conscienness
Mark:Charles, well, personally i do not think this creates consciousness, it creates thinking.
Charles:I ment "mind"
Mark:ok, i just dont think that anything or anyone is aware of the thinking
Joe:is calculation - thinking?
Mark:Joe, in a way yes, often a quite mechanical form of thinking
Charles:calculation might be part of thinking
Joe:then your calculator thinks
Mark:Joe, yes
but i do not think anything is aware of that thinking
Charles:hehe this is really philosophy
Mark::)
Joe:but it has no mind indeed
Mark:yes
Mark:Joe, depends on what we mean by mind
Joe:Mark, reaching your own decisions
Joe:free will
Charles:this is a subject of its own : "free will"
Mark:i like to equate mind with thinking and emotional mechanics. Not exactly with awareness.
Joe:mind can exist without emotional mechanics
Mark:"emotional mechanics" :) i like that expression
Charles:I agree with that; in many levels we are just following some subconscience impulses
so free will is most of the time function of those subconscience impulses or motivators
Mark:yes
(but i do believe we have some kind of genuine free will. I have a spiritual view on life.)
Joe:do dogs have free will?
Mark:Joe, difficult to say
Joe:it seems so react to environment and so
Charles:well nothing is said about the subconscient motivators, maybe that can be seen as free will just we are not aware of
Mark:Joe, potentially i think all living beings have free will
Joe:even bacteria?
Mark:if they are aware yes
but if they exhibit free will in that life form, i dont know.
(i believe in reincarnation)
Joe:ok
Charles:Mark, do you believe there is some non material part that is common in all your lives ?
Mark:Charles, yes, the real self
Charles:ok
Joe:i like imagine my self being some animal
Mark:and i think that is where awareness is
Joe:though i do not believe in it rationally, but deep in heart there is a sense
Charles:how do you see "awareness"
Mark:Charles, i think we might not be able to see awareness, other than conclude it from behaviours we see. But one awareness we can see or be directly aware of, and that is our own awareness.
Charles:ok
Joe:sounds meaningful
Charles:so the real self is an "entity" that continues in all dimensions and lives without time, or in all times
Joe:supernatural you mean?
Charles:yes
if you define this as non observable I think it is an inevitable conclusion
Mark:Charles, in a way yes, he always exists, can not stop to exist
Mark:supernatural yes, in the sense we just talked about that we can not see other awarenesses. But it is probably a very natural thing, maybe super natural! :)
Joe:lol
Charles:haha, indeed, it must be natural, only because of our way of thinking , our culture, it doesn't have a place
Mark:right, but there are cultures or have been cultures where it has a more natural place so to say
Charles:yes
Joe:so its relative
Charles:and that's why we are here , to escape the methodologies a bit of our materialistic culture
Mark:yes
Charles:these thoughts can give a person peace of mind
Mark:yes, that is true
Charles:without removing critical thinking
Mark:maybe because we added some critical thinking :)
Charles:...we escaped dogmatics
Joe:or at least try to avoid
Mark:i believe so, yes
Charles:yes
Charles:I hope these thoughts will penetrate more people
Joe:we shall see
Mark:yes, i hope so too, and i think they will, many already think like this to some extent, and my impression is that it becomes more and more ok to talk about it
Charles:seen the rapid changes in the world now
there must be also rapid development
Joe:yes, speed is high as never been
Mark:internet can cause quick world wide changes
Charles:change happens at the border between two opposing forces so strong materialistic trend must and will be countered by some spiritual "awareness" (that word again), and the internet is right on time for this indeed
Joe:it very relates to social abilities and human mentalities
Charles:...and so in a few lines all the world problems are solved in this chatroom lol :)
Joe:nah
:D
Mark::)
Charles:just kidding
but it is a start
Joe:but the beggining is here done, indeed :D
Joe:yes
Charles:ok, next subject will be.... the problems of ...mars ?
Charles:lol
Joe:venus
Charles:ah yes
Joe:its atmosphere is global problem
Charles:yes global heating has been running away since ..beginning of solar system
Charles:ok, tx again for sharing your thougts here
Joe:you are welcome