This. Conscious experiences are a cause of behavior; they are not the behavior itself. We can get acceleration of iron particles toward an object without magnetism being the cause. Similarly, we should leave open the possibility that complex goal-oriented behavior is possible in the absence of experiences like pain, pleasure, itches, etc.
I was agreeing. And trying to elaborate the magnetism analogy. I’m looking to break the hold that functionalism has on so many lesswrongers, but I’m not sure how to go about it.
This. Conscious experiences are a cause of behavior; they are not the behavior itself. We can get acceleration of iron particles toward an object without magnetism being the cause. Similarly, we should leave open the possibility that complex goal-oriented behavior is possible in the absence of experiences like pain, pleasure, itches, etc.
I don’t see the relevance. I was trying to argue that bioloigical claim could be read as more specific than the functional one.
I was agreeing. And trying to elaborate the magnetism analogy. I’m looking to break the hold that functionalism has on so many lesswrongers, but I’m not sure how to go about it.