Nice piece, Eliot, and good on you for reading all of Reality+, a book that's probably longer than it needs to be (I suppose that's the "+" part).
I might be dense, but David Chalmers's argument seems to beg the question. Why believe that the mind is basically a computer and can be reduced to electrical impulses?
I actually haven't read the entire thing! I read bits and pieces, focusing on this chapter, to make sure that he hadn't elaborated on simulation theories elsewhere.
I'm interested in reading more, but the simulation chapter honestly made me wonder whether the rest would be well argued. Based on your comment, maybe it isn't?
1. I think the Cosmic God is worthy of worship, but I'd want to reflect more on the nature of worship to explain why precisely.
2. My gut says the combination of capabilities and moral character could make a being worthy of worship. An infinitely capable being who was a jerk wouldn't be worth worshipping, and an infinitely good being who was weak probably wouldn't either.
Nice piece, Eliot, and good on you for reading all of Reality+, a book that's probably longer than it needs to be (I suppose that's the "+" part).
I might be dense, but David Chalmers's argument seems to beg the question. Why believe that the mind is basically a computer and can be reduced to electrical impulses?
I actually haven't read the entire thing! I read bits and pieces, focusing on this chapter, to make sure that he hadn't elaborated on simulation theories elsewhere.
I'm interested in reading more, but the simulation chapter honestly made me wonder whether the rest would be well argued. Based on your comment, maybe it isn't?
Stimulating piece Eliot!
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
*for* you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Thanks Ben! And thanks for the quotation - that's helpful. Now we just have to work out what it means for God to receive power...lol
1. I think the Cosmic God is worthy of worship, but I'd want to reflect more on the nature of worship to explain why precisely.
2. My gut says the combination of capabilities and moral character could make a being worthy of worship. An infinitely capable being who was a jerk wouldn't be worth worshipping, and an infinitely good being who was weak probably wouldn't either.