The Dissenter

#892 Philip Ball - The Book of Minds: How to Understand Ourselves and Other Beings

Jan 26, 2024
Dr. Philip Ball discusses the solipsist position and explores the concept of minds, including the idea of panpsychism. The evolution of human intelligence and neurodiversity are explored, along with the debate on free will. Dr. Ball also talks about his book, which explores understanding beings from animals to AI to aliens.
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INSIGHT

Solipsism: Unprovable and Unproductive

  • The solipsist position claims we can't know if anything exists beyond our own experience.
  • Philip Ball finds it unprovable and unproductive but suggests assuming an external real world for usefulness.
INSIGHT

Mindedness is Multi-Dimensional

  • Mind is better considered as multi-dimensional degrees of mindedness, not a binary state.
  • Mind requires "something it is like to be" that entity, which excludes inanimate objects.
INSIGHT

Avoid Anthropocentrism in Mind Studies

  • It's difficult to study minds without any assumptions, leading to anthropocentrism.
  • Ball urges moving beyond viewing AI minds as human-like to explore diverse kinds of minds.
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