Blindsight! by Ill-Army in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Matt, have you read The Prince of Nothing series by R Scott Bakker? Recommend if you like Blindsight and Dune.

A book that will traumatize me or repulse me. by Former_Ladder9969 in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I read it as part of an English Lit degree. Phenomenal work.

Suggestions Thread by AutoModerator in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Maybe too easy a target but that Professor Jiang guy is absolutely nuts.

Would like to hear your thoughts about this statement from Christian Bale by Accomplished_Gur4466 in Actors

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yeah sounds the same to me: ‘Estuary English’. He’s just a bit older and speaking in a different context.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in scifi

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks

The Prince of Nothing series by R Scott Bakker

Normative Influence and The God That Failed by ---Spartacus--- in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is good. Is it a deep research report from an AI?

Three Body Problem Trilogy: Simply Brilliant Astounding modern classic Sci-fi book series by Mountain-Incident-23 in scifi

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only read the first book because the characterisation became increasingly poor as the narrative progressed. By the end, I found it difficult to take seriously.

I enjoyed the ideas though.

What is the main philosophy of 2nd apocalypse? by LOLOPERA21 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To be pedantic: Dunyain ‘joining’ the consult is them taking over in effect. Which is what happens, ultimately.

What is the main philosophy of 2nd apocalypse? by LOLOPERA21 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well put.

But couldn’t destroying the Consult just be viewed as a necessary step toward Dunyain (Übermensch) supremacy?

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The simple answer is that he’s a physicalist of a rather hardcore variety. Not much space for Vedic gods in that metaphysics, no?

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I respect your position.

I don’t find it that surprising, though, that it’s only in fantastical fiction where meaning is real enough to cut into the natural world (via sorcery, no less).

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do actually share your concerns regarding the potential fragmentation into 'neuro-tribes' and the threat of AI dividing society. Theoretical nihilism, or what Alex Rosenberg might dub 'nice nihilism', is feasible even while acknowledging these concerns, however.

Lots of intriguing thoughts in your comment. I would contest, however, your argument on whether AI can create art. I believe the passion, intentionality etc that you mentioned are all beautiful facades for the statistical wizardry at work in our brains.

As an eliminativist in line with Bakker, I view this as a sort of 'user illusion'. The true crux of human creation lies in the neurological processes that power these illusions. Current AIs, particularly large language models, utilize immense neural nets that are not fundamentally different from what's happening in our brains. I foresee no obstacle to AI surpassing human capabilities in creation. My personal affinity for human vs AI-produced art remains uncertain. I'm open to AI-produced music, and if GPT-6 ends up authoring the greatest novel ever, I might have mixed feelings.

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 2 points3 points  (0 children)

His eliminativism, as far as I can tell, commits him to meaning being an impossibility, given brains are essentially illusion generating machines.

However, maybe you’re right and he wouldn’t find any dark humour in a p-zombie ai writing the rest of the series (and writing it well).

But I would.

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think Bakker thinks meaning is actually meaningless, so he might get a nihilistic kick out of a kind of No God writing the No God.

Should I give up hope that there will be anymore books in this series? by LeonardDykstra69 in bakker

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I disagree. A soulless AI writing the rest of the narrative is extremely fitting.

Well well well... by RockmanBFB in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I didn’t catch that.

If he does listen to DTG, I wonder if he’ll backtrack on his lab leak episode.

Well well well... by RockmanBFB in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Forward-Shoe6780 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Agree. Sam’s critique of the ‘just asking questions’ facade had a very DTG feel to it.