How do you know for sure that other people (and non-human animals) are conscious?

The so-called "problem of other minds" asks us to consider whether we truly have any solid basis for believing that "we are not alone". In this talk I provide a new, meaningful, and non-trivial solution to the problem of other minds using a combination of mindmelding and phenomenal puzzles in the right sequence such that one can gain confidence that others are indeed "solving problems with qualia computing" and in turn infer that they are independently conscious.

This explanatory style contrasts with typical "solutions" to the problem of other minds that focus on either historical, behavioral, or algorithmic similarities between oneself and others (e.g. "passing a Turing test"). Here we explore what the space of possible solutions looks like and show that qualia formalism can be a key to unlock new kinds of understanding currently out of reach within the prevailing paradigms in philosophy of mind. But even with qualia formalism, the radical skeptic solipsist will not be convinced. Direct experience and "proof" is necessary to convince a hardcore solipsist since intellectual "inferential" arguments can always be mere "figments of one's own imagination". We thus explore how mindmelding can greatly increase our certainty of other's consciousness. However, skeptical worries may still linger: how do you know that the source of consciousness during mindmelding is not your brain alone? How do you know that the other brain is conscious *while you are not connected to it*? We thus introduce "phenomenal puzzles" into the picture: these are puzzles that require the use of "qualia comparisons" to be solved. In conjunction with a specific mindmelding information sharing protocol, such phenomenal puzzles can, we argue, actually fully address the problem of other minds in ways even strong skeptics will be satisfied with. You be the judge! :-)


~Qualia of the Day: Wire Puzzles~

Many thanks to: Everyone who has encouraged the development of the field of qualia research over the years. David Pearce for encouraging me to actually write out my thoughts and share them online, Michael Johnson for our multi-year deep collaboration at QRI, and Murphy-Shigematsu for pushing me over the edge to start working on "what I had been putting off" back in 2014 (which was the trigger to actually write the first Qualia Computing post). In addition, I'd like to thank everyone at the Stanford Transhumanist Association for encouraging me so much over the years (Faust, Karl, Juan-Carlos, Blue, Todor, Keetan, Alan, etc.). Duncan Wilson for the beautiful times discussing these matters. Romeo Stevens for the amazing vibes and high-level thoughts. And of course everyone at QRI, especially Quintin Frerichs, Andrew Zuckerman, Anders and Maggie, and the list goes on (Mackenzie, Sean, Hunter, Elin, Wendi, etc.). Likewise, everyone at Qualia Computing Networking (the closed facebook group where we discuss a lot of these ideas), our advisors, donors, readers, and of course those watching these videos. Much love to all of you!


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Relevant Links:

A workable solution to the problem of other minds - [ Ссылка ]

Beyond Turing: A Solution to the Problem of Other Minds Using Mindmelding and Phenomenal Puzzles - [ Ссылка ]

(and video: [ Ссылка ])

Wada Test + Phenomenal Puzzles: Testing the Independent Consciousness of Individual Brain Hemispheres (Quintin Frerichs) - [ Ссылка ]

Generalized Wada Test and the Total Order of Consciousness - [ Ссылка ]

Why Does Anything Exist? Zero Ontology, Physical Information, and Pure Awareness - [ Ссылка ]

Hyperbolic geometry of the olfactory space (Zhou, Smith, Sharpee) - [ Ссылка ]

Letter from Utopia (Nick Bostrom) - [ Ссылка ]

A Debate on Animal Consciousness (pretty much a "who is who" of the people in the rationalist community who have strong views about consciousness) - [ Ссылка ]

Other Minds (SEP) - [ Ссылка ]

The QRI Ecosystem: Friends, Collaborators, Blogs, Media, and Adjacent Communities - [ Ссылка ]

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"Tout comprendre, c'est tout pardonner" - To understand all is to forgive all.

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