So basically

[Mr. Incognito]

all we are is a self replicating, organic software program, with programmed variance? Does that mean that someone programmed us? What happens when we make an "artificial" intelligence?

[slipknotpsycho]

i think you're thinking a bit to hard....

[xTsUnAmI]

I have no idea whats goin on

[afghooey]

Are we squishy computers, or are computers rigid organisms?

Hmmmm.

[reality0]

very odd thought... made me think about it for like 10 minutes haha :jointsmile:

[187]

i was actaully thinking about that today and how all living things are just very complex machines.

[afghooey]

Not at all.

Each of the billions of neurons in your brain, at any given time, are either firing or not firing. There is no in-between, just yes and no. 1 and 0. Just like binary.

[LIP]

Over Analyzing at it's worst.

[afghooey]

For those who are interested, here's a very interesting article by Stephen Hawking that touches on this subject:

Stephen Hawking on DNA and the origin of life (http://www.watsoncrombie.com/wchawking.html)

[Xsphere253]

Christ... I read about 2 paragraphs and then... well then I stopped.

[afghooey]

Seriously? I didn't think the text was that hard to swallow at all, and I usually choke pretty easily when it comes to quantum physics. I found it really interesting, actually.

[Runaway Jim]

Read the whole thing.
Crazy shit.

[partcleguy]

Afghooey, you're mostly right. You could think of most neurons as firing only in 1s and 0s, but that would be vastly oversimplifying our nervous system. There are neurons that fire with graded potentials (so the depolarization/membrane voltage varies between 1 and 0) although the neurons after those would then fire a 1 or 0 after summating all of the connections to themselves (which can be as high as 8000 connections). Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that neurons can send information "backwards" through other neurotransmitters (like nitrous oxide and yes, THC or rather its natural counterpart anandamide). Also, neurons can adapt to signals which is unique compared to computers whose circuits alone will never change their amplitude etc.

So
1. We are very, very complex machines running "intelligent code" you could say.
2. Neurons do not fire just like 1s and 0s, they have the ability to adapt and respond differently to 1s and 0s and to change connections all the time.

Now, it is not necessary to have a "programmer" of humans, but I'm not saying its not possible. Evolution seems like a very likely reason which requires no greater intelligence.

[afghooey]

That... is some interesting shit. :jointsmile: Thank you partcleguy. All I know of the brain I learned in a standard college psyche class (not much, I'll admit).

Maybe I'll take a trip up to the library later and see if I can't find some more on the subject.