Post by Yiwei Wang on Jun 1, 2015 5:10:07 GMT
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that what we see is not real and that it is all just an illusion in our minds. We use our minds and our consciousness to figure out what we see and sometimes see things that are not even there in real life.Conscious inhabitants of simulations experience their virtual lives whether or not outsiders manage to view them. They can be implemented in any way at all. In the video "Brain Burn," it talks about the consciousness, which is literally a virtual simulator. I think this is really interesting topic. When we are doing something, or make choices, we would imagine what may happen to us, which our consciousness simulate what might happen. Furthermore, this film states that consciousness as a virtual simulator helps us survive globally. I agree with this because consciousness would simulate something may happen, it helps us prevent bad things happen. Basically, I think our consciousness is our imagination. As stating in the film, most of our awareness is “in” our head it doesn't have to face the very real and empirical and deathly consequences of being “without.” Thus, our knowledge and experience are important to our consciousness. For instance, a kid knows that the hot water is hot, since he has never experienced how hot the water is, he wants to touch it. After he touched it , he would realize it is dangerous because it hurts him. Therefore, the consciousness would simulate the “hot”, and portend the consequences of it. “Awareness is Poker Self-Reflective Chance giving itself better odds”, I think this is a really good summary of consciousness. Our consciousness makes different assumptions, so we make choices based upon them, which would increase our chances to survive, and be successful. After watching this film, I realize the importance of our knowledge and experiences because they help our consciousness make more correct inferences.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain plays tricks on us by having us see things that we thing are there but really are not.In the reading "Is the Universe an App?"states “the hypothesis that the universe is the result of a computational simulation, and as such is an incredibly rich and detailed delusion which has ultimately tricked us into believing otherwise.” I think this isn't possible because we can be even tricked into believing that the computer has intelligence. Human beings are too easily being tricked.Our brain is made up of millions of neurons that would affect our thinking, and our consciousness is correlated to our brain. Since our consciousness is a virtual simulator, it is possible that everything we sense is our illusion. When we go to sleep and have a dream, at that time our consciousness is in the dreaming state. Then, we wake up, we might believe that things happen in our dream is true because they are so vivid. But, in fact, it is an illusion. I have thought that if everything is all a simulation, then why do human beings exist? Since our brain is so complex, it is difficult to figure our how our brain works. If we cannot figure out this problem, we might not able to understand this universe because our brain controls us. In the book "The Cerebral Mirage" it says that the cerebral mirage is the one who gives a false sense of knowledge and certainty. This shows that it is our brains that are the ones to blame when we think we see something that is not really there. Our brains tricking us is beneficial for our genetic survival because it helps us make decisions based on is it real or not that some species might not be able to accomplish.
The virtual simulation theory of consciousness is the idea that what we see is not real and that it is all just an illusion in our minds. We use our minds and our consciousness to figure out what we see and sometimes see things that are not even there in real life.Conscious inhabitants of simulations experience their virtual lives whether or not outsiders manage to view them. They can be implemented in any way at all. In the video "Brain Burn," it talks about the consciousness, which is literally a virtual simulator. I think this is really interesting topic. When we are doing something, or make choices, we would imagine what may happen to us, which our consciousness simulate what might happen. Furthermore, this film states that consciousness as a virtual simulator helps us survive globally. I agree with this because consciousness would simulate something may happen, it helps us prevent bad things happen. Basically, I think our consciousness is our imagination. As stating in the film, most of our awareness is “in” our head it doesn't have to face the very real and empirical and deathly consequences of being “without.” Thus, our knowledge and experience are important to our consciousness. For instance, a kid knows that the hot water is hot, since he has never experienced how hot the water is, he wants to touch it. After he touched it , he would realize it is dangerous because it hurts him. Therefore, the consciousness would simulate the “hot”, and portend the consequences of it. “Awareness is Poker Self-Reflective Chance giving itself better odds”, I think this is a really good summary of consciousness. Our consciousness makes different assumptions, so we make choices based upon them, which would increase our chances to survive, and be successful. After watching this film, I realize the importance of our knowledge and experiences because they help our consciousness make more correct inferences.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain plays tricks on us by having us see things that we thing are there but really are not.In the reading "Is the Universe an App?"states “the hypothesis that the universe is the result of a computational simulation, and as such is an incredibly rich and detailed delusion which has ultimately tricked us into believing otherwise.” I think this isn't possible because we can be even tricked into believing that the computer has intelligence. Human beings are too easily being tricked.Our brain is made up of millions of neurons that would affect our thinking, and our consciousness is correlated to our brain. Since our consciousness is a virtual simulator, it is possible that everything we sense is our illusion. When we go to sleep and have a dream, at that time our consciousness is in the dreaming state. Then, we wake up, we might believe that things happen in our dream is true because they are so vivid. But, in fact, it is an illusion. I have thought that if everything is all a simulation, then why do human beings exist? Since our brain is so complex, it is difficult to figure our how our brain works. If we cannot figure out this problem, we might not able to understand this universe because our brain controls us. In the book "The Cerebral Mirage" it says that the cerebral mirage is the one who gives a false sense of knowledge and certainty. This shows that it is our brains that are the ones to blame when we think we see something that is not really there. Our brains tricking us is beneficial for our genetic survival because it helps us make decisions based on is it real or not that some species might not be able to accomplish.