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Roy Davies

['Member']Joined: September 29, 2020 at 22:42Last active: October 09, 2020 at 02:363 discussions76 comments
Location: New Zealand

Bio

I'm a thinking engineer with a background in Computer Science, Cognitive Science and Human Factors. As a consultant, I describe myself as an expert in Mixed Reality and Calm Computing.

Favourite Philosopher

Currently: Popper and Berkeley

Discussions (3)

Comments

In: Do People Have Free Will?  — view comment
How would you know if you are thinking freely or merely have the concept of thinking freely. I think I can freely choose to spend time on this forum, ...
October 09, 2020 at 01:30
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Just thinking further about the difference between ideas and organisms. True, an idea doesn't itself have a will, but does it induce a will in the min...
October 09, 2020 at 01:10
In: Creativity: Random or deterministic? Invention or discovery?  — view comment
I like the logic there. I don't think it proves a zeroeth order, but it is a logical and sensible hypothesis that matches the observations and can eas...
October 09, 2020 at 01:06
In: What’s in a name?  — view comment
Made me smile. I often use 'the VRguy' for the same reason - having worked in the VR industry for decades.
October 09, 2020 at 01:03
In: What’s in a name?  — view comment
I like the concept behind this. I once started a highly unsuccessful website called humanitycomputer.org, the premise being that the human race should...
October 09, 2020 at 01:01
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
This presupposes that the only factor affecting a choice is morality. Morally, I might pick up a lost wallet and give it into the police station. If I...
October 09, 2020 at 00:56
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
Questions like this would normally be followed by a conjecture based on observations to which we could attempt refutation. I'm not sure how I can tell...
October 09, 2020 at 00:49
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
Indeed, we are animals who have evolved through millenia. Our first question always has to be "how is what I am thinking now biased by my evolutionary...
October 09, 2020 at 00:46
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
In a way, yes. Of course, if you choose to go against the moral norms of the society you are in, you won't be appreciated by the other members of the ...
October 09, 2020 at 00:43
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Another theory of ideas comes more from the cognitive and behavioural science areas. We perceive, and this activates parts of our brains. Through inte...
October 09, 2020 at 00:31
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
This is the crux of the dilemma facing decisions made for the best of the planet, societies and people. We are now having the interests of another sel...
October 09, 2020 at 00:21
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Sometimes a little humour can help lighten the mood.
October 09, 2020 at 00:18
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
An interesting and valid point. Of course, parasites evolve as well. One area where the analogy breaks down is that ideas are not self ambulatory, and...
October 09, 2020 at 00:17
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
I don't have a dog, but I know that cats can be selfish. If I put a pile of treats between our two cats, they won't stand back to let the other one in...
October 09, 2020 at 00:07
In: Creativity: Random or deterministic? Invention or discovery?  — view comment
If I perceive something directly with my senses, that must form a first-order idea. Over time, I perceive many horses, and I build up an idea in my br...
October 03, 2020 at 11:22
In: Do People Have Free Will?  — view comment
Is there a difference between thinking one has free will because the system is so complex we cannot perceive the factors that contribute to determinis...
October 03, 2020 at 11:05
In: What’s in a name?  — view comment
I suppose that there are those who seek anonymity by choosing a nom de plume. Perhaps they are uncomfortable with having their statements associated w...
October 03, 2020 at 11:01
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
What if we lived in a harsh environment where a sick person would mean we have to spend effort on looking after them, to the extent that the entire gr...
October 03, 2020 at 10:51
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Oh, I don't know: A dancing crow
October 03, 2020 at 10:45
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
I think this has to be the quote of year... Though perhaps one could even say that "Philosophy is like a cow that eats ideas, chews over them again an...
October 03, 2020 at 10:40
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
I'm sure it is, but one has to push an analogy beyond its limits in order to define the border.
October 03, 2020 at 10:38
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Yes, but what is the rule that ensures survival? In natural systems, it is survival of the fittest, but in an artificial system, one has to create the...
October 03, 2020 at 10:36
In: What’s in a name?  — view comment
Perhaps we are not imaginative enough to come up with something more inventive.
October 03, 2020 at 10:32
In: Is Buddhism A Philosophy Or A Religion?  — view comment
There are many interesting philosophies, ways that people attempt to explain the world they perceive, and ways to get along. It's interesting to talk ...
October 03, 2020 at 10:29
In: The Value of Emotions  — view comment
That seems sensible. An evolutionary benefit.
October 03, 2020 at 10:14
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
Morality is a social convenience, nothing more.
October 03, 2020 at 10:13
In: The ultimate technique in persuasion and rethoric is...  — view comment
The ultimate way to persuade someone is to first understand where they are coming from, in other words, knowing something about their state of mind an...
October 01, 2020 at 06:22
In: Free will and ethics  — view comment
Isn’t morality subjective? Doesn’t it depend on the environment, culture, society in which one finds oneself? So, my morality would be different to yo...
October 01, 2020 at 06:16
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Indeed. Popper talks about what I would think can best be described as how to value practical ideas. The scientific process, and in essence it is an a...
October 01, 2020 at 06:08
In: Is Buddhism A Philosophy Or A Religion?  — view comment
Pessimist or Realist?
October 01, 2020 at 05:56
In: The More The Merrier Paradox  — view comment
If I observe that a burger I purchased is not good, I would make a conjecture as to why that might be so. Is it because the meat was off because it wa...
October 01, 2020 at 05:54
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Good points. I’ll need to think about that a bit, but I think you are now getting into the next stage of my rather loose theory, which is most excelle...
October 01, 2020 at 05:45
In: The More The Merrier Paradox  — view comment
So, back to the original point at the start, X observes O, and makes a hypothesis about O (the conjecture). (this is often the 'aha' or 'I wonder' mom...
September 30, 2020 at 23:05
In: The More The Merrier Paradox  — view comment
In my understanding, observation is followed by conjecture which is then subjected to attempts to refute it. The value of the conjecture (not the obse...
September 30, 2020 at 23:01
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Therein, by the way lies another interesting debate as to whether a stable and safe society (as one might wish to attain) breeds apathy and depression...
September 30, 2020 at 22:56
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
For the former - that is indeed the question. One would have to first decide what a positive direction is. For example, for the good of society? For t...
September 30, 2020 at 22:52
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
For the latter, I suggest reading Popper's "Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge" if you haven't already done so. He says i...
September 30, 2020 at 22:46
In: The Social Dilemma  — view comment
It is difficult to fight against the 'quick serotonin hit' of social media. Funnily enough, I've only just joined this forum, but I am finding it inte...
September 30, 2020 at 22:40
In: Is Buddhism A Philosophy Or A Religion?  — view comment
Very likely. I am curious about the different ways that ideas are valued across different cultures (and hence religions). And thus what we might learn...
September 30, 2020 at 22:31
In: Is Buddhism A Philosophy Or A Religion?  — view comment
I've often wondered about the pessimistic view of the 4 noble truths. What is the optimistic version? 1. Life is joy 2. Experience brings joy ergo 3. ...
September 30, 2020 at 22:30
In: Is Buddhism A Philosophy Or A Religion?  — view comment
The religion of science?
September 30, 2020 at 22:26
In: The Value of Emotions  — view comment
From a biological points of view, the way I understand emotions is this: 1) An entity perceives something. 2) This activates parts of the brain. 3) So...
September 30, 2020 at 22:24
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
Ideas might contribute to the successful existence of the entity thinking it, and thus be a positive influence on the entity and idea together, but th...
September 30, 2020 at 22:15
In: The Value of Emotions  — view comment
The power of art.
September 30, 2020 at 21:49
In: The animal that can dislike every moment  — view comment
I think most animals have innate knowledge hard wired into the brain through Millenia of evolution. As do humans, but we can question some of it.
September 30, 2020 at 21:47
In: Is my heatpump sentient?  — view comment
Brilliant, thank you all for such stimulating responses. I can conclude that you are all (probably) sentient, though might be clever computer programm...
September 30, 2020 at 21:39
In: Is my heatpump sentient?  — view comment
Ok, but I'm interested in debating this.
September 30, 2020 at 09:38
In: Is my heatpump sentient?  — view comment
They will, and do, but we have enough problem now with people being influenced by technology - this will make it even more complicated.
September 30, 2020 at 09:37
In: How is a raven like the idea of a writing desk?  — view comment
I think the problem is suggesting that an idea is 'good' or 'bad'. Going back to the evolution of ideas, whether an idea survives or not is not about ...
September 30, 2020 at 09:23
In: Is my heatpump sentient?  — view comment
Ah yes. I agree the title is a little odd. The reason for prompting the discussion is part of a larger idea that interests me about human's relationsh...
September 30, 2020 at 09:17
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