Seriously, do you remember that Bill Moyers special where Patricia Churchland had the brain in vat of formaldehyde just sitting there on her desk? I found it really ghoulish in a subpar Damien Hirst kind of way. Anyhow, if my memory serves me correctly, she asserts both that nobody believes in a soul and that when she dissected her first brain it was like pulling apart a piece of cheese.
Anyhow, it just occurred to me that this was roughly the same time she was writing great things about where Chalmers' Zombie examples go wrong [(1) Zombies are not conceivable, (2) conceivability does not imply possibility, and (3) possibility is irrelevant anyhow)].
In retrospect, this all seems a little bit self serving, doesn't it? I mean if one was in fact a brain eating zombie, then one in fact would both (a) have a vested interest in refuting Chalmers, and (b) be prone to doing things like comparing brains to cheese on Bill Moyers specials. I know if I was undead that's *exactly* what I would do.
In any case, let me be the first to say that I, for one, welcome our new undead overlords ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mriBc6NjUhg ).
Jon, I think it may well be a multi-prong zombie strategy by Chalmers and Churchland. Chalmers is clearly more subtle--it's hard to believe that Churchland would let the cheese comment slip. But the entire debate is to make us more comfortable with the thought of zombies as our overlords. Chalmers shows us that, while they may be different, they are in every practical way just like us. And so we have nothing to worry about. Some of your best friends may be zombies. For those who still worry, there's Churchland's view.
Both acquiescence and ignornance facilitate the zombie takeover.
Observations from an old cranky jerk who happens to be a professional philosopher. Occasionally philosophical, most often just vulgar. Sometimes focused on sober points of logic and issues in political theory, but more frequently fixed on nonsense. Bad metal bands, crappy guitarists, stupid lyrics, celebrities, pop "culture," telemarketers, irrationality, and other annoyances. Always misanthropic. Anti-religious. Not particularly amusing, either. Some might say insulting. Strange mail. Kook magnet. Doom. Comments from other cranky jerks, young and old.
8 comments:
I wish I could explain
but research has taken my brain
Research: it's a brain-taker,
a truth-maker,
a heart-breaker.
I like the ambiguity of 'take' there: requires v. consumes/destroys.
Best T-shirt I've seen lately: "Jesus loves me, but I only like him, so it's kind of awkward."
Good Research takes four things: brains, diligence, drugs, and naps.
Most good research these days is done by zombies.
They are soliciting brain donations apparently, with the full sticker reading:
"Research Takes Brains 1-800-brain-bank"
http://www.brainbank.mclean.org/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-8265405.html
Jesus Saves
coupons and redeems them for valuable prizes!
Seriously, do you remember that Bill Moyers special where Patricia Churchland had the brain in vat of formaldehyde just sitting there on her desk? I found it really ghoulish in a subpar Damien Hirst kind of way. Anyhow, if my memory serves me correctly, she asserts both that nobody believes in a soul and that when she dissected her first brain it was like pulling apart a piece of cheese.
Anyhow, it just occurred to me that this was roughly the same time she was writing great things about where Chalmers' Zombie examples go wrong [(1) Zombies are not conceivable, (2) conceivability does not imply possibility, and (3) possibility is irrelevant anyhow)].
In retrospect, this all seems a little bit self serving, doesn't it? I mean if one was in fact a brain eating zombie, then one in fact would both (a) have a vested interest in refuting Chalmers, and (b) be prone to doing things like comparing brains to cheese on Bill Moyers specials. I know if I was undead that's *exactly* what I would do.
In any case, let me be the first to say that I, for one, welcome our new undead overlords ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mriBc6NjUhg ).
Research takes brains...
... away from the one true
religion: credulity.
Jon, I think it may well be a multi-prong zombie strategy by Chalmers and Churchland. Chalmers is clearly more subtle--it's hard to believe that Churchland would let the cheese comment slip. But the entire debate is to make us more comfortable with the thought of zombies as our overlords. Chalmers shows us that, while they may be different, they are in every practical way just like us. And so we have nothing to worry about. Some of your best friends may be zombies. For those who still worry, there's Churchland's view.
Both acquiescence and ignornance facilitate the zombie takeover.
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