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Single Idea 2109
[filed under theme 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 3. Privacy
]
Full Idea
If a conscious machine were increased in size, one might enter it like a mill, but we should only see the parts impinging on one another; we should not see anything which would explain a perception.
Gist of Idea
Increase a conscious machine to the size of a mill - you still won't see perceptions in it
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (Monadology [1716], §17)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.181
A Reaction
A wonderful image for capturing a widely held intuition. It seems to motivate Colin McGinn's 'Mysterianism'. The trouble is Leibniz didn't think big/small enough. Down at the level of molecules it might become obvious what a perception is. 'Might'.
Related Idea
Idea 7522
A full neural account of qualia will give new epistemic access to them, beyond private experience [Churchlands]
The
19 ideas
from 'Monadology'
7644
|
The monad idea incomprehensibly spiritualises matter, instead of materialising soul
[La Mettrie on Leibniz]
|
11857
|
He replaced Aristotelian continuants with monads
[Leibniz, by Wiggins]
|
7843
|
Is a drop of urine really an infinity of thinking monads?
[Voltaire on Leibniz]
|
12751
|
It is unclear in 'Monadology' how extended bodies relate to mind-like monads.
[Garber on Leibniz]
|
7931
|
If a substance is just a thing that has properties, it seems to be a characterless non-entity
[Leibniz, by Macdonald,C]
|
12707
|
The true elements are atomic monads
[Leibniz]
|
17554
|
There must be some internal difference between any two beings in nature
[Leibniz]
|
19363
|
Changes in a monad come from an internal principle, and the diversity within its substance
[Leibniz]
|
2109
|
Increase a conscious machine to the size of a mill - you still won't see perceptions in it
[Leibniz]
|
19352
|
A 'monad' has basic perception and appetite; a 'soul' has distinct perception and memory
[Leibniz]
|
2110
|
We all expect the sun to rise tomorrow by experience, but astronomers expect it by reason
[Leibniz]
|
19362
|
We know the 'I' and its contents by abstraction from awareness of necessary truths
[Leibniz]
|
2111
|
Falsehood involves a contradiction, and truth is contradictory of falsehood
[Leibniz]
|
4642
|
No fact can be real and no proposition true unless there is a Sufficient Reason (even if we can't know it)
[Leibniz]
|
2112
|
Truths of reason are known by analysis, and are necessary; facts are contingent, and their opposites possible
[Leibniz]
|
9344
|
Mathematical analysis ends in primitive principles, which cannot be and need not be demonstrated
[Leibniz]
|
2113
|
God alone (the Necessary Being) has the privilege that He must exist if He is possible
[Leibniz]
|
2114
|
This is the most perfect possible universe, in its combination of variety with order
[Leibniz]
|
2115
|
Everything in the universe is interconnected, so potentially a mind could know everything
[Leibniz]
|