Instead of the God that most theists believe in,

Could we not just be self-replicating chemically run robots trying to justify our existence, hopelessly?

I mean the brain just sends electrical signals, we have a bunch of organs working in unison to keep the other organs running smoothly. Is this not what computers do, or will do once they become more complex.

EX: There are parts of a computer that regulate it's temperature, but there are also parts that have to regulate that part to be able to tell temperature correctly.

Maybe man is so fascinated by computers because we are trying to justify how we work on a basic level.

I mean of course we have a consciousness, but what I'm wondering is if we really have a soul.

I just thought of this the other day, not that I believe it whole heartedly, but on some level it makes sense to me.

Peace

--Vargev--

Instead of the God that most theists believe in,

Could we not just be self-replicating chemically run robots trying to justify our existence, hopelessly?

Who worship the great chemical robot maker in the sky.

You have discovered materialism. It is a superstition.

For more info on this, see the thread which, um, I haven't gotten around to writing yet.

However, there is one thing I feel compelled to respond to -- "fascinated by computers." Speak for yourself--most of us are not.

I thought this up one of the first times I smoked weed, and pondered it in the bed of a truck zooming down the highway. It was a nice little theory, thanks for reminding me.

You have discovered materialism. It is a superstition.

For more info on this, see the thread which, um, I haven't gotten around to writing yet.

To OP: I prefer "moral animals" over "robots", but I like where this is going.

To Arms: Bring it. ;)

Maybe your DNA is a quantum computer.. Is it (http://dsd.lbl.gov/ImgLib/COLLECTIONS/BERKELEY-LAB/RESEARCH-1991-PRESENT/LIFE-SCIENCES/images/96703352.lowres.jpeg)?

Bring it. ;)

AWWWWWW, YEAH!

*pops corn*

Why are we here, what's life all about?
Is God really real, or is there some doubt?
Well tonight, we're going to sort it all out
For tonight it's the Meaning of Life.
What's the point of all this hoax?
Is it the chicken and the egg time,
Are we just yolks?
Or perhaps we're just one of God's little jokes.
Well ça c'est the Meaning of Life.
Is life just a game where we make up the rules,
While we're searching for something to say,
Or are we just simply spiralling coils,
Of self-replicating DNA?
In this life, what is our fate?
Is there Heaven and Hell? Do we reincarnate?
Is mankind evolving or is it too late?
Well tonight here's the Meaning of Life.
For millions this life is a sad vale of tears,
Sitting round with nothing to say,
While scientists say we're just spiralling coils,
Of self-replicating DNA.
So just why, why are we here?
And just what, what, what, what do we fear?
Well çe soir, for a change, it will all be made clear,
For this is the Meaning of Life
-c'est la sens de la vie,
This is the Meaning of Life.

It was needed...

To Arms: Bring it. ;)

Now there's motivation.

I had been thinking it was more a SotD topic, though.

In any case, this will have to wait a while-- starting tomorrow,I have three shows to do on three consecutive weekends (two gunshows, and an MS benefit show), plus now that the weather is getting warmer, I'll be peddling stuff outta the back of my car most days.

(What, you thought I had a real store?)

You have discovered materialism. It is a superstition.


Little food for thought on your upcoming thread:

You believe in souls, how is this any less superstitious?

Now there's motivation.

I had been thinking it was more a SotD topic, though.

In any case, this will have to wait a while-- starting tomorrow,I have three shows to do on three consecutive weekends (two gunshows, and an MS benefit show), plus now that the weather is getting warmer, I'll be peddling stuff outta the back of my car most days.

(What, you thought I had a real store?)

SOTD would be fine, too. Good luck on your retailing! I bet that peddling out the back of your car saves you LOADS on overhead expenses.

Please look up the definition of superstition before you make that post. And keep it sunny here in cali, I know you can control the weather.

Chemical robots? It's but a perception.

One I agree with, because I do take a materialisticview of things as I know no other. There is always room for change though; because I have no fucking idea of how things really are. And how could I? I'm only human. And how could Arms? So is he.

I think it is correct to a degree, for material is all I can really see. I can feel things you might say, but this is only due to the fact that my brain releases chemicals to make me realize what I truly want, and to help me successfully reproduce.

The only thing that throws me off is my small understanding of quantum physics. What really is this thing we call reality... We may never really be able to answer that question.

--Vargev--

The Soft Machine was a pioneering English psychedelic, progressive rock, and jazz fusion band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs.

I love that term. Chemical robots is even better.

I think that some things in the universe will never be properly comprehended by our measly brains of chunks, juice and electricity.

A lot of the questions we search could be a matter of the "Where the fuck are my sunglasses!??" when they're sitting on top of your head. It's just ... above us... or something.

According to Mark Twain in his last book, people are nothing but machines. We respond exclusively to external stimuli. Our actions are determined by two things: genetics and past experience. We are all mortal beings and therefore our lives are predetermined. That's a brief summary of some of his ideas.

We are mortal beings perceiving the 3rd dimension, mortality might be an illusion as well. Next, even if we are mortal, why must our lives be predetermined. That makes no sense.

--Vargev--

I think the soul is something that controls the chemical robots. And consciousness is a weird thing, I mean we can be conscious but then we can be "CONSCIOUS" as well, like when I was in a car accident, I was unconcious for about 30 seconds, then I woke up and had a concussion but I wasn't really "CONSCIOUS" then, I become conscious in the emergency room in the hospital half way through making a joke to a nurse and after I finished the joke I was like "Wtf did I just say? Where am I?"

Well, that could just be due to the fact that your brain's "processing" rerouted the information through parts of the brain where memory isn't stored. Most likely because your brain went into shock and decided maybe remembering this isn't what I need to be focusing on right now.

I mean I'm no doctor or anything, but that seems plausible to me.

I suppose from one point I can see your side as well, but besides that, the point can't be proven in any scientific way.

--Vargev--

Yeah, that is a plausible point you put forward but what I don't understand is, if my brain was rerouting signals to where they were needed to repair damage or something, why was I making a joke and (from what people told me), why could I remember everything from a few seconds after the accident, but all my memory of that disappeared in an instant, half way through a joke.

Short term memory is different from long term memory. They are pretty much apples and oranges.

As for your main point, can a computer be running without it's monitor on?

I hope you have the general intellect to answer that question. I'm sure you do though, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Dare I say, your brain (not YOUR brain but the human brain), has evolved to work in that way, for some reason. Every computer has a different operating system, to some extent. We all have our own programs that our brain and body run to execute certain functions, though some functions might be undetectable to your conscious level.

--Vargev--