With full telepathy, the cognitive illusion of “one self per body” would shatter. To join a telepathic society would be to melt into a hive mind. And that hive mind wouldn’t regret the melting of its individual members any more than our bodies regret the loss of individuality of its cells.
Are the members of the hive mind analogical to the unthinking cells, or rather to different subsystems of the brain which sometimes do have conflicting goals?
Even if the individualities are lost, there could still be clusters with mutual disagreement. A part of the hive mind wanting to expore the outside world, other part desiring more wireheading...
Sensory experiences cannot be clearly distinguished from “thoughts, or just feelings, or both”.
I don’t think that’s quite true. There is some overlap, sure. I imagine reading thoughts like reading a book about something (or maybe watching a movie) rather than actually doing that something. You can be quite immersed, but still not confuse your own thoughts with those on screen.
With full telepathy, the cognitive illusion of “one self per body” would shatter. To join a telepathic society would be to melt into a hive mind. And that hive mind wouldn’t regret the melting of its individual members any more than our bodies regret the loss of individuality of its cells.
Are the members of the hive mind analogical to the unthinking cells, or rather to different subsystems of the brain which sometimes do have conflicting goals?
Even if the individualities are lost, there could still be clusters with mutual disagreement. A part of the hive mind wanting to expore the outside world, other part desiring more wireheading...
I did not suggest shared sensory experiences, precisely to avoid this mind meld. You are also not forced to read other people’s thoughts and feelings.
Sensory experiences cannot be clearly distinguished from “thoughts, or just feelings, or both”.
I’m not forced to use the internet, either. I’ll just be outcompeted if I don’t.
I don’t think that’s quite true. There is some overlap, sure. I imagine reading thoughts like reading a book about something (or maybe watching a movie) rather than actually doing that something. You can be quite immersed, but still not confuse your own thoughts with those on screen.