We (organic life forms in general, humans in specific) are an interesting mix. We've got this wonderful advanced logical capacity (well, some of us do) and we have the more primitive stuff like fear that keeps us in line and love that keeps us willing to live. We're all incredibly complex organic quantum computers, if you think about it. I don't see why we couldn't be based on silicon etc rather than carbon et al. But would such "hardware" really prevent us from having emotion? No simulated neural network has developed any such qualities yet, but I think that the only real blasphemy comes from doubting our own capacity and creativity.
I don't know if we're "destined" to evolve beyond our mortal organic bodies, but I believe that most of us will see truely alive artificial beings in our time. And I know that any God who'd endow us with minds that allow us to even discuss these things would be embarassed by the bible-thumping, "you're-going-to-hell"-slinging mentality that's somehow gotten posted on a site devoted to freedom of thought.
Slashdot Mirror
We (organic life forms in general, humans in specific) are an interesting mix. We've got this wonderful advanced logical capacity (well, some of us do) and we have the more primitive stuff like fear that keeps us in line and love that keeps us willing to live. We're all incredibly complex organic quantum computers, if you think about it. I don't see why we couldn't be based on silicon etc rather than carbon et al. But would such "hardware" really prevent us from having emotion? No simulated neural network has developed any such qualities yet, but I think that the only real blasphemy comes from doubting our own capacity and creativity.
I don't know if we're "destined" to evolve beyond our mortal organic bodies, but I believe that most of us will see truely alive artificial beings in our time. And I know that any God who'd endow us with minds that allow us to even discuss these things would be embarassed by the bible-thumping, "you're-going-to-hell"-slinging mentality that's somehow gotten posted on a site devoted to freedom of thought.