User:Andrew-King/views

My take on things

My take on things — Life, the Universe & Everything

Philosophy of science

• Skeptic, freethinker, fallibilist and rationalist.
• Strong believer in the power of reason, logic, critical thinking and the scientific method.
• If you don't think for yourself, who will?

Philosophy of mathematics

• Mathematical constructivist & Mathematical finitist who (despite which) still finds infinity and infinitesimals fascinating.

Philosophy of physics

• Physical Realist who views it as a leap of faith, not logic: if you can't deduce Reality exists, it's generally safer to just assume it – at least while crossing the road.
• Proponent of the Many worlds interpretation and Branching space-time interpretations of quantum mechanics; I don't like the Copenhagen interpretation, especially the "conscious observer" variant.
• One of those "nutters" that believes in a branching time Multiverse, and that Physics (and thus the whole of Reality) reduces to, and emerges from, Mathematics or something like it.

Philosophy of technology

• Transhumanist and pro immortality, intelligence amplification and synthetic evolution: we're the first species in Earth's history to begin seizing control of our own longevity, intellectual capacity and evolutionary development; what's more, it started during our lifetime — now that's historic!
• Pro technological singularity, strong AI and Intelligence explosion.
• I expect genetic algorithms, artificial intelligence and intelligence amplification will significantly affect the future of science and technology, by increasing mankind's effective intelligence.

Philosophy of mind

• Functionalist who finds the "Chinese nation" thought experiment fascinating.
• Strong AI believer and Philosophical zombie disbeliever.
• Prefer Cybernetics to the Symbolic AI school of artificial intelligence when it comes to the pursuit of seed AI and strong AI in general.
• Skeptical that free will can truly exist as an objective phenomenon beyond being a mere subjective perception, even in a indeterminate branching time Multiverse.
• Unsure whether quantum effects (potentially involving quantum chaos or quantum gravity) play a direct role in consciousness but find the concept intriguing. Chaos definitely has strong connections to complexity.
• Hopeful but doubtful that mind uploading will happen in my lifetime.

Philosophy of religion

• Igtheist & Theological noncognitivist, but with Atheist & Antitheist leanings.
• The theist is >99.99% atheist; from the uncountable deities throughout human history, they believe theirs is the exception that proves rule.
• The atheist merely takes that last extra step, and in doing so gains the benefit of a consist rather than arbitrary basis of judgment.
• General all-round deity doubter and supernatural skeptic; except for flying spaghetti monsters of course, which are indeed unquestionably real.
• If "gods" really were to exist, they'd undoubtedly ride around on invisible pink unicorns. Well I would! Wouldn't you?
• Religions are fads: like civilizations, they rise and fall; try finding current worshipers of Atum, Zeus, Jupiter or Odin — the gods of today are just as transient.

Philosophy of ethics

• Nihilist & Ethical noncognitivist, but with some Utilitarian and Secular Humanist sympathies.

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