Mechanism

The world-famous mathematician Alan Turing found a possible mechanism for iconic animal patterns thanks to differential equations

Some scientists believe life on earth originated in organic matter in earth's bodies of water more than 3.5 billion years ago," reports CNN. "But where did that organic material come from...?" Maybe electrical energy sparked the beginnings of life on earth — just like in Frankenstein: Rese...

Every year, AI models get better at thinking. Could they possibly be capable of feeling? And if they are, how would we know?

What you experience as the linear passage of time might be more like a stable shadow of reality rather than fundamental reality itself, scientists say.

Autoencoders are letting us peer into the black box of artificial intelligence. They could help us create AI that is better understood, and more easily controlled.

Here on Earth, all living organisms obey certain rules and laws, and are subject to the phenomenon of evolution, including (and often, primarily) through the process of natural selection. Organisms…

Despite great progress, we lack even the beginning of an explanation of how the brain produces our inner world of colors, sounds, smells and tastes. A thought experiment with "pain-pleasure" zombies illustrates that the mystery is deeper than we thought.

A new study connects the brain's interaction with metals to the phenomenon of consciousness.

Some scientists seek to clarify reality, others to mystify it. Physicist David Bohm seemed driven by both impulses. He is renowned for promoting a sensible (according to experts like Einstein, John Bell and philosopher Tim Maudlin) interpretation of quantum mechanics. But Bohm also asserted that sci

Article URL: http://cultureandcommunication.org/galloway/normal-science Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34377378 Points: 2 # Comments: 0

Exploring the role of God in a Nihilistic worldview.

Recent studies find our first impulses are selfless

The very laws of physics imply that artificial intelligence must be possible. What's holding us up?

The title of this post is a play on Bertrand Russel's classic essay, "Why I am not a Christian." But the content is modeled after Chapter 7 of David Deutsch's highly under-appreciated book, "The Fabric of Reality". Following Deutsch (who himself followed John Worrall) the essay takes the form of a dialog between me (Ron) and a Unicornian, one who believes in Unicorns. A disclaimer: this piece is a poor paraphrase…

Schrödinger was a world-class physicist who wrote a great deal about philosophy, theology, and metaphysics

The multiverse of pop culture owes its existence to a testable scientific hypothesis.

After a jury found a January 6 rioter guilty on all charges a federal judge weighed in with a warning on American democracy."The insurgency, and it was in effect that, is very troubling," Judge Reggie Walton, a Senior U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, said, CNN reports. "I think our ...

By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune April 14, 2022 "Gov. Greg Abbott announces deals with two more Mexican governors to halt Texas' vehicle inspections at the border" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them —...

Article URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holon_(philosophy) Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30215864 Points: 1 # Comments: 0

If a computer became conscious but wanted to keep its self-awareness secret, would we ever know? Neuroscientist Anil Seth explores the latest research in consciousness.