04-02-2014, 10:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-02-2014, 05:38 PM by stevebowers.)
(04-02-2014, 10:30 AM)radtech497 Wrote: As a corollary, could a technically advanced civilization exist that is peopled with beings who lack those levels of self-awareness and potential? In other words, are self-awareness and "potential" (however that may be defined) absolute requirements for an advanced civilization? Watching the nightly news leads me to question just how widespread those qualities are among 21st century CE humans.
Radtech497
It's an interesting question: to what extent can intelligence exist without consciousness. This isn't my area of research at all but phenomenon like the Libet delay might indicate they aren't so linked. For a fictional exploration Blindsight by Peter Watts is a fantastic novel.