Where did I say “times”? I meant that kN neurons are effectively replaced at once. I said in the argument that the neurons are replaced with a neglible time difference.
Doing them all at once doesn’t help. You are still arguing that if kN neurons make no observable difference, then neither do (k+1)N, for any k. This is not true, and the underlying binary concept that it either does, or does not, make an observable difference does not fit the situation.
Let P(n) designate the proposition that the procedure does not alter current or future consciousness if n neurons are replaced at once.
P(0) is true.
2. Suppose P(k) is true for some number k. Then replacing k neurons does not change consciousness for the present or future. Replace a single extra neuron in a neglible amount of time since the former replacement, such as the reaction time of a single neuron divided by the total number of neurons in the brain. #Replacing a single neuron on an unaltered consciousness with a functional replacement produces no change in current or future consciousness. # Therefore P(k+1) is true.
By mathematical induction, P(n) is true for all n >= 0
The proof uses mathematical induction. The only way to argue against this is to show that 1. or 2. is false. P(0) is obviously true. The supposition is valid because P(k) is true for at least one k, k = 0. One must then demonstrate that the statement between the hashtags is false. As I implied in my update, the statement between the hashtags is not necessarily true.
One must then demonstrate that the statement between the hashtags is false. As I implied in my update, the statement between the hashtags is not necessarily true.
Then that undercuts the whole argument. That is exactly the argument by the beard. It depends on indistinguishablility being a transitive property, but it is not. If A and B are, for example, two colours that you cannot tell apart, and also B and C, and also C and D, you may see a clear difference between A and D.
You cannot see grass grow from one minute to the next. But you can see it grow from one day to the next.
“Indistinguishability” in my original argument was meant as a behavior change that reflects the subject’s awareness of a change in consciousness. The replacement indistinguishability is not transitive. Regardless of how many are replaced in any order there cannot be a behavior change, even if it goes as A to B, A to C, A to D...
I think we differ in that I assumed that a change in consciousness can be manifested in a behavior change. You may disagree with this and claim that consciousness can change without the behavior being able to change.
The replacement indistinguishability is not transitive.
I assume that’s a typo for “is transitive”.
Regardless of how many are replaced in any order there cannot be a behavior change, even if it goes as A to B, A to C, A to D.
Why not? If you assume absolute identity of behaviour, you’re assuming the conclusion. But absolute identity is unobservable. The best you can get is indistinguishability under whatever observations you’re making, in which case it is not transitive. There is no way to make this argument work without assuming the conclusion.
All proofs at least implicitly contain the conclusion in the assumptions or axioms. That’s because proofs don’t generate information, they just unravel what one has already assumed by definition or axioms.
So yes, I’m implicitly assuming the conclusion in the assumptions. The point of the proof was to convince people who agreed with all the assumptions in the first place but who did not believe in the conclusion. There are people who do believe the assumptions but do not agree with the conclusion, which, as you say is in the assumptions.
You refer to doing this k times. There is your gradual process, your argument by the beard.
If A is indistinguishable from B, and B is indistinguishable from C, it does not follow that A is indistinguishable from C.
Where did I say “times”? I meant that kN neurons are effectively replaced at once. I said in the argument that the neurons are replaced with a neglible time difference.
Doing them all at once doesn’t help. You are still arguing that if kN neurons make no observable difference, then neither do (k+1)N, for any k. This is not true, and the underlying binary concept that it either does, or does not, make an observable difference does not fit the situation.
Let P(n) designate the proposition that the procedure does not alter current or future consciousness if n neurons are replaced at once.
P(0) is true.
2. Suppose P(k) is true for some number k. Then replacing k neurons does not change consciousness for the present or future. Replace a single extra neuron in a neglible amount of time since the former replacement, such as the reaction time of a single neuron divided by the total number of neurons in the brain. #Replacing a single neuron on an unaltered consciousness with a functional replacement produces no change in current or future consciousness. # Therefore P(k+1) is true.
By mathematical induction, P(n) is true for all n >= 0
The proof uses mathematical induction. The only way to argue against this is to show that 1. or 2. is false. P(0) is obviously true. The supposition is valid because P(k) is true for at least one k, k = 0. One must then demonstrate that the statement between the hashtags is false. As I implied in my update, the statement between the hashtags is not necessarily true.
Then that undercuts the whole argument. That is exactly the argument by the beard. It depends on indistinguishablility being a transitive property, but it is not. If A and B are, for example, two colours that you cannot tell apart, and also B and C, and also C and D, you may see a clear difference between A and D.
You cannot see grass grow from one minute to the next. But you can see it grow from one day to the next.
“Indistinguishability” in my original argument was meant as a behavior change that reflects the subject’s awareness of a change in consciousness. The replacement indistinguishability is not transitive. Regardless of how many are replaced in any order there cannot be a behavior change, even if it goes as A to B, A to C, A to D...
I think we differ in that I assumed that a change in consciousness can be manifested in a behavior change. You may disagree with this and claim that consciousness can change without the behavior being able to change.
I assume that’s a typo for “is transitive”.
Why not? If you assume absolute identity of behaviour, you’re assuming the conclusion. But absolute identity is unobservable. The best you can get is indistinguishability under whatever observations you’re making, in which case it is not transitive. There is no way to make this argument work without assuming the conclusion.
All proofs at least implicitly contain the conclusion in the assumptions or axioms. That’s because proofs don’t generate information, they just unravel what one has already assumed by definition or axioms.
So yes, I’m implicitly assuming the conclusion in the assumptions. The point of the proof was to convince people who agreed with all the assumptions in the first place but who did not believe in the conclusion. There are people who do believe the assumptions but do not agree with the conclusion, which, as you say is in the assumptions.