Is your mind just a parasite on your physical body?
bigthink.com
A new science fiction novel does a masterful job of crafting a narrative from an idea long discussed in philosophy: Is the mind needed?

Blindsight is a unique kind of first-contact novel. Its focus is not on humanity’s first meeting with an alien civilization, but rather that this civilization is highly intelligent, yet lacks consciousness.

  • What if intelligence can thrive without consciousness?

  • What if there is nothing special about self-awareness?

  • What if it is just evolutionary dead weight, bound to disappear soon?

The idea rests on machine metaphors for life and mind, which strike this columnist as profoundly mistaken.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48484.Blindsight

Blindsight Sci-fi Short Film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkR2hnXR0SM

The Horrible Truth About Consciousness | Blindsight

  • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
    4·
    1 month ago

    I’ve read the sequel, Echopraxia, which does focus on first contact, and liked it quite a bit. I’m not sure I buy it, per se, but the Chinese Room/machine allegory seems reasonable enough. I suspect this author might be more open to the ideas expressed in that one.