On Reconciling Atheism and Meaning in the Universe

[cpwm17]

102. I don't know whether reincarnation into computers is possible, I'm making an educated guess it's not

Predictions about the future of artificial intelligence usually turn out wrong, and are way too optimistic. The hardware and software in the brain are basically the same thing and can't be separated. They are able to evolve together. Computer hardware would be difficult to artificially evolve, at least so far. Perhaps major advancements could be made.

Computer scientists can artificially evolve computer software in simulations. This would be the best hope to create consciousness in computers. But computers are very limited in what they can do, relative to living brains.

We have no examples of anything like zombies existing. Consciousness is critical to how we evolved into complex animated beings. Consciousness solves multiple challenges needed to make animals properly function.

Consciousness produces feelings which have several functions - kills multiple birds with one stone: it is the motivational force that's impossible to ignore, and your brain automatically acts on those feelings; feelings force the complex brain to act as one unit, since the strongest feeling at the moment gets the attention; feelings are the criteria for learning (you learn and remember through your feelings). And through consciousness, the brain can attach ones thoughts and sensual experiences to ones feelings.

All we know is consciousness was the direction that evolution took to solve the problems of creating complex animated beings.