Chalmers, the iPhone and the Extended Mind
TEDxSydney 2011 is today. I discovered that today. Where has my mind been? But you know what, I can’t really be arsed watching it live.
I did watch David Chalmers’ talk though. I’ve been reading Chalmers for years, being a philosophy major and all. His talk on technology (namely the iPhone and Google) being an extension of the mind was interesting but I wouldn’t say groundbreaking. I’ve found myself disagreeing with Chalmers a lot over the years. He, a property dualist / new mysterian. Me, a rather hardline materialist.
Chalmers’ argument is that technology is taking over how we think, behave and store information. To this I say, that’s been gradually happening for years. Since the beginning of time. Yes, technology does it in a more profound way. However, it’s principally the same. Is technology the extended mind? Well that depends on how one defines the mind, and the cut-off point between the mind and reality.
Descartes argued that reality is completely played out in the mind. For the mind, or our ability to use it, is the only thing we can be sure of. And that reality fundamentally exists within it, if not spatially distinct to it.
Chalmers’ talk seemed rushed and jumbled. I would like to see him give a talk on technology and the extended mind without the pressures of the time slot and the diverse audience upon him.
-
schrodingersmouse reblogged this from thenihilist
-
thenihilist posted this
