@queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone
Post #2022497
2026-05-03 05:57 UTC
I think, when we finally do have a generally-accepted definition of consciousness, we will be deeply unsettled by how simple it is. How unprofound. Like a magic trick after you know how it works. And I think it will require us to think hard about what to do with animals and software that have it.
Replies (2)
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@trem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2026-05-03 06:44
I feel like that's exactly why we don't have a generally-accepted definition of consciousness. Western ethics assigns special protection to whatever is conscious, so it is *convenient* to come up with a definition of consciousness, which excludes groups you want to exploit.
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@turdas@suppo.fi 2026-05-03 09:35
Personally I'm in the "consciousness is an illusion and every time you go to bed a different person wakes up in the morning" camp.