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Old 12-01-2007, 07:59 AM
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Paul C. Anagnostopoulos is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Bailey
The mathematical world is full of relationships - such as 22+17=39 - that are true for all time - they are, if you like micro-theorems. Now what I am trying to point out is that for specific values of input,program, and output, the relationship input=>program=>output is exactly the same sort of object!!
Agreed. Of course, to state the theorem we need to know the output beforehand.

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If you claim a program has full consciousness, the computer is kind of irrelevant - that relationship input/P/output is out there as a mathematical fact - like Pythagoras' theorem or whatever. The entire half hour brain simulation is just one more mathematical fact.
Assuming no truly random inputs, then the input/P/output is a mathematical fact, yes.

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Looked at from this point of view, running the computer program is just a way to check the the theorem.
If we know the output beforehand, and all we want to do is check the theorem, then yes.

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Where does your machine consciousness lie - in the computer, or in the corresponding mathematical relationship that was true in the time of the dinosaurs and will still be true when the sun goes red giant.
In the execution of the program.

~~ Paul
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