strbean

> I asked below as well, but how does the observer effect work as a physical system?

Just to be sure - the observer effect doesn't refer to a human observer, but rather to any measurement of a quantum system.

It is unsatisfying that quantum mechanics posits that particle states are fundamentally probabilistic. It's possible that in some sense there is an underlying order such as string theory that is impossible to test or verify. In that case, it would make sense to consider string theory as metaphysics. A fun exercise, but not scientific and not useful for understanding the world. By definition it would not be helpful in predicting or modeling the world, otherwise that would serve as a way of testing the theory.

More on the subject:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physicalism

And now we are finding that cetaceans have language more complex than out own :)

Agreed with you on all points!

I'm totally onboard with that as a plausible argument, but I think the architectural limitations with respect to consciousness are very deliberate rather than some lack of technology. We've invested huge sums of money and human effort to create tools with explicit goals that are completely at odds with consciousness or AGI. If we had invested similarly with the clear goal of creating something with agency, self-determination, neuroplasticity, etc. instead of controllability, repeatability, reliability, I think we would be there already.

If the brain isn't just a physical system, then we may as well give up. There's certainly no point discussing it, as any assertions will be untestable and one persons elaborate and well thought out theory will be just as valid and predictive as the next persons "consciousness is created by invisible purple unicorns" theory.

So if we are going to discuss it, we should start from the assumption that there is no magic or witchcraft or religion involved.

This is a simple and intentional design choice though. Biological lifeforms are always on and always receiving sensory input. LLMs don't functionally exist out side of when we decide to run them. An always on agent with a looping prompt of "if you aren't doing anything else, ruminate" overcomes this limitation.

Lots if these arguments are similar to birds saying "Jets don't flap their wings so they aren't even flying."

The arguments about reasoning are even shakier because they usually rely on totally unproven assertions about human reasoning. At least we know birds flap their wings.

The 2001 AUMF hasn't been repealed. It was used as recently as 2025 to justify attacks on Venezuelan ships.

I have mixed feelings about this statement. On the one hand: long-lived disparity like this is going to be very painful for those on the losing end of it. On the other hand: slowing the pace of change allows society and government to better adapt to it, and really rapid change always creates huge openings for assholes and opportunists to take over.

Okay, so the chamber of commerce is a radical organisation, got it.

It doesn't say anything about how Tim Curry viewed the Muppets, but rather about how Tim Curry treated himself. It stands to reason that if he was, say, method acting as an actual Muppet, that he too would view the other Muppets as fellow actors with their own identities etc.

[0]: https://wiki.snowdrift.coop/about/snowdrift-dilemma

E.g., the guide page ends with

> The honest bottom line. Perfect anonymity [...]

> I've had it in my settings forever, and still...

Checks out! I've never used it my self, so it I figured it likely didn't work at all.