The Future Is Upon Us

[MisterV]

The point I think is not so much to "ponder the imponderable" as it is to "discern the discernable."

Socrates said that "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Horses work hardest with blinders on; should people be any different?

I try to live my life without bullshitting myself about the important stuff, which includes asking some questions which have no satisfactory answer.

Not "what is the meaning of life:" I figured that one out long ago.

The only meaning of life is to reproduce and nurture your offspring until they too can reproduce.

[LarryS]

Full time APs, theologians all serve society with equal value.

Hey mom, I am bringing homr\e my boyfried.....he is a full time AP
Hey mom, I am bringing home my boyfriend...he is a stay at home theologian
Hey mom I have HIV

not words any parent wants to hear

Socrates said that "An unexamined life is not worth living."

ummm thats a nice declaration.....but maybe he was wrong. Or maybe he was prone to overstate things. Maybe thats an exaggeration. I know I know..its fucking Socrates.....what he says has to be valid. Maybe a less famous but equally astute theologian, Benji said "an examined life is a waste of time"

A horse with t he blinders removed will not spend his time examining his life. He will spend his time seeing and experiencing more of his world

[MisterV]

A great Benjamin (Franklin) said the following (I have it inscribed on a framed plaque, something passed on from my mom):

"He that would live in peace and ease must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees."

[LarryS]

another declaration as if handed down by god. Its funny that these people never start their declaration with "In my opinion" or "it can be argued" or "I may be talking out of my ass, but,,,,,," 0r "for what its worth"

or "you may disagree but......" or I am a pompous ass so full of myself, but......."

[MisterV]

You could say the same thing about all the "advice" in the Bible, e.g. "Judge not, lest ye be judged" etc.

Ever notice that the only people of REAL socio-political consequence in human history have been the folks giving out this advice?

Jesus, Mohammad, Moses come to mind.

Yes, their teachings are wrapped and bundled as religion, but in the end it's just fairly sage advice.

[LarryS]

Advice from the bible is usually attributed to "devine" entities. So if you believe they exist....then you cant go againt it or question it. That is the fall back argument for all religions when people question. You cant question the words of an all knowing "god".

There was a british theologian, not to well know, named alfie

and I remember the question posed to him

"Whats it all about"

I am not sure what the answer was, but I am sure it was as profound and valid as Socrates, Franklin, or Stan Hart.

[redietz]

The answer's 42. I thought we all agreed on that.

[Bill Yung]

It appears we may soon develop quasi-sentient AI; hello, Terminator.

Certain primates may be approaching sentience; hello, Planet of the Apes.

Running headlong into the abyss.

AI is an excellent example of lots of ability but no consciousness. At the other end of the scale, the odd person whose language skills never developed still has an internal language; and a lot of psych patients consciously linger in a mind which doesn't work. You could pick people you think are more consciously aware, but I suspect that, on average, those persons would be average, too.

The basic thing about consciousness is its seemingly quantum non-locality. It's not seated in any particular part of the brain or body. Astronauts experience this in zero gravity.

And it's this so-called quantum nature of consciousness that allows us to solve non-computational problems. Furthermore, it's easier to define what is computational, and then add something new to such a set of rules (or manner of construction of rules) to prove that no one set of rules can solve every problem.

[LarryS]

true, but remember

your sperms in the gutter, your love's in the sink

[Bill Yung]

The answer's 42. I thought we all agreed on that.

Ha, not bad. It's 24 (dimensions)! Which reminds me of an old Ramanujan polynomial of degree 24 to do with L-functions. I wish I could remember it. Will have to ask around.

[monet]

The answer's 42. I thought we all agreed on that.

Don't forget your towel!

[mickeycrimm]

another declaration as if handed down by god. Its funny that these people never start their declaration with "In my opinion" or "it can be argued" or "I may be talking out of my ass, but,,,,,," 0r "for what its worth"

or "you may disagree but......" or I am a pompous ass so full of myself, but......."

"In my opinion" you should take your own advice here.

[quahaug]

I guess I went to WOV by mistake. I intended to go to vegascasinotalk but somehow ended up here.

[MisterV]

I guess I went to WOV by mistake. I intended to go to vegascasinotalk but somehow ended up here.

[Bill Yung]

More of a mixed metaphor than a paradox?

[LarryS]

or viaduct

[Bill Yung]

http://www.rebelcircus.com/blog/vali...-eating-semen/

The tip of the iceberg of modern sexual practices.

[MisterV]

http://www.rebelcircus.com/blog/vali...-eating-semen/The tip of the iceberg of modern sexual practices.

Oh come on.