this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2024
37 points (78.5% liked)

Showerthoughts

29851 readers
349 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Panpsychism is the idea that everything is conscious to some degree (which, to be clear, isn't what I think). In the past, the common response to the idea was, "So, rocks are conscious?" This argument was meant to illustrate the absurdity of panpsychism.

Now, we have made rocks represent pins and switches, enabling us to use them as computers. We made them complex enough that we developed neural networks and created large language models--the most complex of which have nodes that represent space, time, and the abstraction of truth, according to some papers. So many people are convinced these things are conscious, which has many suggesting that everything may be conscious to some degree.

In other words, the possibility of rocks being conscious is now commonly used to argue in favor of panpsychism, when previously it was used to argue against it.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 months ago (3 children)

A rock with no electricity is just a rock. Meat with no electricity is just a body. Electricity is the only conscious thing there is.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Interesting take! Is lightning conscious, then? The idea of Thor isn't too far off if so, haha.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

Considering how "fuck you in particular" lightning can be...maybe.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think any force will produce results if harnessed.

Imagine a plane without gravity.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Imagine a plane without gravity.

Like a space ship?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Electricity still needs a specifically built medium to pass through before it can form a consciousness, though. You can't just send electricity through a tree and expect the tree to suddenly become conscious. Electricity is just a key ingredient of consciousness, not the full picture.

Bodies have neutral pathways that allow electricity to simulate consciousness if regulated properly. Same with computers and circuitry.