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Given that our minds eye can picture a person and picture ourselves interacting with that person, does that mean even though the person we are conversing with is created with our own imagination and has no phsysical presence except in the nuerons of our brain it still has some sort of animation or life, a sort of living thought?

2006-08-17 08:07:11 · 6 answers · asked by Stan S 1 in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

6 answers

According to Turing, certain kinds of computing devices may be considered identical in the sense that if given enough time and information they may simulate each other to any degree of accuracy desired. Or, to put this in another way, if people make decisions based on anything that might possibly be measured, be it genetics, environment, experiences, and so on, it is possible to simulate a person with enough input about them.

What, then, is the difference between the thoughts of a person 'being themselves' and the thoughts produced with a knowing enough simulation of someone else? I would argue that there is no difference at all.

Thus imaginary personalities in your head and even memories of other people are just as alive as you yourself are. I'll leave it to you to decide whether you are alive in the first place, or whether it's just your BODY that's alive!

2006-08-17 08:19:52 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1 0

I think it's kind of independent. For instance, we can think of things that make us cry and feel depressed even though it would be possible to think of something happy and pleasant. We can also manipulate our memories, like forgetting or imagining. So in a way, yes.

2006-08-17 15:17:35 · answer #2 · answered by Steph 4 · 0 0

It is like a reflection...this is everything we see and understand. All of our ideas and experiences are subjective taken in by stimuli...we cannot know what is the absolute reality and if that even exists. Still we must function, that is why we must accept what the stimuli lets us see. Descartes really couldn't satisfy me.

2006-08-17 15:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by Alcheme 2 · 0 0

Definitely. We not only think of them (especially loves ones who have passed) but they come visit us in our dreams. Sometimes you may even feel their presence around you, smell their cologne or perfume, here their voice.

2006-08-17 15:43:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

imagine the same question , but about someone who never lived(fictionary) and a lot of people share ideas (fabricated memories)
about the person.
does he exist?

2006-08-17 15:21:28 · answer #5 · answered by shogunly 5 · 0 0

yes, I have many children

2006-08-17 15:25:08 · answer #6 · answered by cirdellin 4 · 0 0

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