Shadow Emergence
From CasGroup
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There is perhaps another form of [[Emergence|emergence]] which doesn't | There is perhaps another form of [[Emergence|emergence]] which doesn't | ||
fit into the traditional categories of weak and strong | fit into the traditional categories of weak and strong | ||
| - | emergence: | + | emergence: "imaginary" or "shadow" emergence. It is |
comparable to strong [[Emergence|emergence]], and describes the | comparable to strong [[Emergence|emergence]], and describes the | ||
appearance of a new completely new [[System|system]]. Yet only | appearance of a new completely new [[System|system]]. Yet only | ||
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that it can not be isolated from it. It could also be | that it can not be isolated from it. It could also be | ||
named `false'-, `pseudo'- or `quasi'-emergence. The mind, | named `false'-, `pseudo'- or `quasi'-emergence. The mind, | ||
| - | [[Self-Consciousness|self-consciousness]] and the [[Self| | + | [[Self-Consciousness|self-consciousness]] and the [[Self|"self"]] |
belong probably into this category. | belong probably into this category. | ||
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physical substance, how can neurons and interactions | physical substance, how can neurons and interactions | ||
between neurons give rise to something completely | between neurons give rise to something completely | ||
| - | different which | + | different which "hovers" over the brain? This question |
has kept philosophers busy since the middle ages. The | has kept philosophers busy since the middle ages. The | ||
answer is: it is not possible in the way our brains | answer is: it is not possible in the way our brains | ||
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substances such as ghosts and spirits are projections | substances such as ghosts and spirits are projections | ||
from one world to another, imaginary items which exist | from one world to another, imaginary items which exist | ||
| - | only in our imagination. The | + | only in our imagination. The "self" is a projection, |
an illusion, a belief, an imaginary concept. | an illusion, a belief, an imaginary concept. | ||
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and our brains learn from the beginning to treat | and our brains learn from the beginning to treat | ||
everything we encounter as a person or human, including | everything we encounter as a person or human, including | ||
| - | ourselves. Yet, as Steven Pinker has noticed, | + | ourselves. Yet, as Steven Pinker has noticed, "the |
intuitive feeling that there's an executive `I' that | intuitive feeling that there's an executive `I' that | ||
sits in a control room of our brain, scanning the screens | sits in a control room of our brain, scanning the screens | ||
of the senses and pushing the buttons of the muscles, | of the senses and pushing the buttons of the muscles, | ||
| - | is an illusion. | + | is an illusion." Although we have the feeling of |
peering out at the world from the control room behind | peering out at the world from the control room behind | ||
our eyes, the self in the control room is only an | our eyes, the self in the control room is only an | ||
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realm. 100 billion jabbering and flickering neurons | realm. 100 billion jabbering and flickering neurons | ||
create for each of us the illusion that one exist and | create for each of us the illusion that one exist and | ||
| - | is here. The imaginary idea of a | + | is here. The imaginary idea of a "mental" self comes |
as close as possible to a real entity, without being | as close as possible to a real entity, without being | ||
real. It appears to be real and independent from the | real. It appears to be real and independent from the | ||
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our actions and our behavior. It is the whole brain | our actions and our behavior. It is the whole brain | ||
with its myriads of neurons, synapses and connections. | with its myriads of neurons, synapses and connections. | ||
| - | Steven Pinker puts it like this: | + | Steven Pinker puts it like this: "consciousness turns |
out to consist of a maelstrom of events distributed | out to consist of a maelstrom of events distributed | ||
across the brain. These events compete for attention, | across the brain. These events compete for attention, | ||
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rationalizes the outcome after the fact and concocts | rationalizes the outcome after the fact and concocts | ||
the impression that a single self was in charge all | the impression that a single self was in charge all | ||
| - | along. | + | along." If we could seperate the hardware form the |
software in the brain (the many Exabytes of code and | software in the brain (the many Exabytes of code and | ||
data which specify how many neurons exist and how they | data which specify how many neurons exist and how they | ||
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code or compiler. | code or compiler. | ||
| - | In Ray Bradbury's words we are | + | In Ray Bradbury's words we are "too soon from the cave, |
| - | too far from the stars | + | too far from the stars". Just as we cannot leave the |
earth to explore interplanetary space (contrary to | earth to explore interplanetary space (contrary to | ||
machines and robots), we cannot leave our body, although | machines and robots), we cannot leave our body, although | ||
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Our selfs disappear with their bodies, and when the | Our selfs disappear with their bodies, and when the | ||
brain disintegrates, the mind vanishes, too. In the | brain disintegrates, the mind vanishes, too. In the | ||
| - | words of Steven Pinker, | + | words of Steven Pinker, "when the physiological activity |
of the brain ceases, as far as anyone can tell the | of the brain ceases, as far as anyone can tell the | ||
person's consciousness goes out of existence [...] | person's consciousness goes out of existence [...] | ||
Every moment of consciousness is a precious and | Every moment of consciousness is a precious and | ||
| - | fragile gift. | + | fragile gift." |
(the quotes from Steven Pinker are from his article | (the quotes from Steven Pinker are from his article | ||
