Qualia defined in Wikipedia:
Philosopher and cognitive scientist Daniel Dennett once suggested that qualia was "an unfamiliar term for something that could not be more familiar to each of us: the ways things seem to us".[2]
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? If qualia is a real thing then what you see as the color blue could be what I see as the color red. We then have different favorite colors due to variations in how our eyes detect color. These little variations are the diversity which make each of us have a unique individualized perspective of reality.
Could this also apply to sexual attraction? Could this sexual attraction be the key to the evolution that created human life as we know it? Could qualia be the key to consciousness as we understand it? The key to intelligent life as we know it?
Much of the debate over their importance hinges on the definition of the term, and various philosophers emphasize or deny the existence of certain features of qualia. Consequently, the nature and existence of various definitions of qualia remain controversial in light of the fact that the existence of qualia has never been independently and scientifically proven as fact.
Qualia cannot be scientifically proven for the same reason we cannot use science to prove consciousness. What is light according to science other than a wave form pattern or specific vibration pattern? We can't actually see light as it really is because qualia makes it so each of us see each color a little bit different (in a unique way) and because of this our entire universe is inexact.
Science can determine what color is and where it exists on a spectrum, but it cannot experience how color feels to look at. It cannot sense the color blue and can only give a precise number representing blue on a spectrum. That number isn't different depending on who looks at it but the color blue we see is different depending on who looks at it. This also presents problems because on the quantum level we also have this inexact nature of reality and observer effects.
Although it does not actually mention the word "qualia", Thomas Nagel's paper "What Is it Like to Be a Bat?"[4] is often cited in debates over qualia. Nagel argues that consciousness has an essentially subjective character, a what-it-is-like aspect. He states that "an organism has conscious mental states if and only if there is something that it is like to be that organism—something it is like for the organism."[5] Nagel also suggests that the subjective aspect of the mind may not ever be sufficiently accounted for by the objective methods of reductionistic science. He claims that "if we acknowledge that a physical theory of mind must account for the subjective character of experience, we must admit that no presently available conception gives us a clue how this could be done."[6] Furthermore, he states that "it seems unlikely that any physical theory of mind can be contemplated until more thought has been given to the general problem of subjective and objective."[6]
Perhaps reality is merely the sum of all subjective experiences? The color blue experienced could be the color blue while the number representing the precise definition might be merely a number representing something which nothing in the universe can ever experience. Similar to how nothing in the universe can experience knowledge of the precise location of a particle in space and at best only do probability.
What is it like to be you?
This is a question which only you can ever answer if qualia is real. If qualia is not real then you can be cloned merely by copying exactly the information pattern representing your existence. In essence there are people who believe in the ability to theoretically upload you digitally. I'm skeptical of this as I would expect if qualia is real (we don't know or have a way to prove for sure) then the original you would maintain a subjective experience of being in that body while the copy might be a p-zombie. We have no way to determine using science which of the two will be able to experience subjective because science would have no ability to confirm subjective experience even exists for either version.
The Flirtation (1904), by Eugene de Blaas
Sexual attraction is attraction on the basis of sexual desire or the quality of arousing such interest.[1][2] Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal is an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context where they appear. The attraction may be to a person's aesthetics or movements or to their voice or smell, besides other factors. The attraction may be enhanced by a person's adornments, clothing, perfume or style. It can be influenced by individual genetic, psychological, or cultural factors, or to other, more amorphous qualities. Sexual attraction is also a response to another person that depends on a combination of the person possessing the traits and on the criteria of the person who is attracted.
Sexual attraction is the driver of mate selection. Mate selection is the driver of the evolution of intelligent life. Could sexual attraction be possible without qualia? Is there an objective set of criteria which is most beautiful to all? Can you imagine how intelligent life can evolve with no qualia? Is that the difference between biological life and AI?
Variety is the spice of life, That gives it all its flavor. - William Cowper
Qualia makes life a lot more interesting, that is for certain. If we were all the same, there would be no need for choice.
Thanks for the post. I enjoy the things that make you go hmmm.
Best,
Mo
Followed and Upvoted
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Same reason some food tastes great to some and others hate, exact reasons my buddies can sit and eat oysters for an hour and I wouldn't touch one for $100 lol
Everyone has their own "tastes" and yes its all subjective to the person and their wants, needs and desires. Interesting post!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That is definitely true for me. I am always attracted to those who are most unlike me. If you are exactly like me, then what is the use of being with you? I don't want to be with me, I want to be with someone who's not me. :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
this is because of the law of polarity (property of electricity), we all tend to be attracted to those who can reveal our weaknesses, so we can improve.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Ah, I see what you are saying about weaknesses. So fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
But why you've decided to use Bohr? Why not Everett? Maybe you can experience knowledge of the precise location of a particle in space. You just need to exist in the right universe.
About immortality. Mind downloading isn't the only option. We may gradually become cyborgs. That may give us time to take us with us into the Shell.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You miss the point. There is no such thing as a precise location in space in any observable universe. Think of it like this, what is the color blue if there is nothing to experience color?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
No location in space in any observable universe? But according to David Deutsch's interpretation of Everett's many worlds theory " “The entire multiversal photon is indeed an extended object (wave), while instances of it (particles, in histories) are localized.” (The Beginning of Infinity, p. 275). This is the 'location of a particle' I was referring to when I said 'Maybe you can experience knowledge of the precise location of a particle in space'.
What I'm missing here? Can you elaborate a little?
Let me also explain my intentions. Your 'qualia - measurement problem' analogy is great, I'm just asking if (and how) it may work outside the Copenhagen interpretation. Or at least I hope that is what I'm doing :)
P. S. It's page 309, my mistake, I'm sorry.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I really like your article. I had never heard of such a thing as qualia. . . But as far as to sexual attraction I find it to be sort of a novelty. You compare it to colors or smells or even fashion. Those things pass and fade away. What on the surface we are attracted to is eventually benign. . . What is more deeply rooted is our social and cultural constructs. The parts of our mind that have control over us that we are not even aware of at times. Yes I may love blue and it's subjective to my conscious mind but mine and I your unconscious mind like what we like because of our ancestry and our heridity and our culture. We may be modern people but we still have much to learn about ourselves. I find what I like today and am attracted to may be different in 20 years. How can qualia be a factor when it cannot be defined but only as the elusive quantum particle. It only exists if I chose to look at it. . Very thought provoking article. Thank you.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
much of the philosophy discovered after aristotle, socrate and plato, phytagoras... and a few others, has only tried to split hair, and so successfully that society is even more fragmented than ever before.
Interesting read though
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit