Re: [asa] dawkins and collins on "Fresh Air" interview program

For an excellent overview of the latest on Consciousness see Koch's
Watson lecture.

http://today.caltech.edu/theater/item?story%5fid=6187

"Philosophers are very good at asking question... Hiistorically
speaking philosophers have a disastrous record in answering them."

The hypothesis is actually quite straightforward. Zombie modes.

"May actions in response to sensory inputs are rapid, transient,
stereotyped and unconscious. They could be thought as cortical
reflexes. Consciousness deals with more slowly, with broader, less
stereotyped aspects of sensory inputs (or a reflection of these in
imagery) and takes time to decide on appropriate thoughts and
responses. It is needed, because otherwise a vast number of different
zombie modes would be required. The conscious system may interfere
somewhat with the concurrent zombie system. It seems to be a great
evolutionary advantage to have zombie modes that respond rapidly, in a
stereotyped manner, together with a slightly slower system that allows
for thinking and planning more complex behavior."

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Received on Sun Apr 1 18:01:21 2007