Inventor of Micrprocessor Denies Computationalism

I'm not following how this suggests that a computer could be conscious.  Sorry, I'm obviously missing something.

Physicist and inventor of the microprocessor, Federico Faggin, on life, the universe and everything

Physicist Federico Faggin is none other than the inventor of both the microprocessor and silicon gate technology, which spawned the explosive progress in computer technology we have witnessed over the past five decades. He is also probably the world’s most well rounded idealist alive. Mr. Faggin approaches idealism from both a deeply technical and a deeply personal, experiential perspective. In this interview, Essentia Foundation’s Natalia Vorontsova engages in an open, free-ranging, but very accessible conversation with Mr. Faggin.

[Ninshub]

That's an interesting interview for those who may not have clicked on it because of the description. He's describing how a spiritual experience of consciousness turned him away from physicalism to an idealist worldview. He starts talking about the experience at 5:10.

That's an interesting interview for those who may not have clicked on it because of the description. He's describing how a spiritual experience of consciousness turned him away from physicalism to an idealist worldview. He starts talking about the experience at 5:10.

Thanks for pointing that out, Ian and thanks to Sci for sticking it up, I just love the way he describes consciousness there, brilliantly simple but brilliant nevertheless, IMHO.

"Consciousness is a magical property that cannot be defined with anything (that is) simpler than itself and that's why it must be fundamental. It cannot be a derivative from (of) matter that has none of these properties"

[Ninshub]

He seems to have undergone something like a kundalini experience, or a classic "spiritually transformative experience" (often involving the Light and a sense of love) that some people interpret or label as "kundalini".

He seems to have undergone something like a kundalini experience, or a classic "spiritually transformative experience" (often involving the Light and a sense of love) that some people interpret or label as "kundalini".

Yes, absolutely and that's the word I was actually looking for (Kundalini)

Thanks Sci,

That is indeed an interesting talk. He persuades me even more that quantum mechanics is the key to the nature of consciousness. I don't think he means it as an analogy, but as the literal truth.

I like the idea that we can't transmit mind but only a flattened version of ideas. This reminds me of downloading a mathematical paper. That is easy but it doesn't guarantee that I will understand it!

His concept seems to be that mind works in Hilbert space and that has to be collapsed down to text (say) to be transmitted to another person because the no-cloning theorem prevents the copying of the entire quantum state. I think he means this quite literally.

Here is another interview that he did with a transcript.

https://zdoggmd.com/federico-faggin/

Go to the bottom and press "Transcript"

Faggin has written a book entitled SILICON, which mostly describes his work designing microprocessors.

He seems a rather vain man, but he has achieved a lot, so I guess that is OK.

However, as an old man he has come round to the question about the nature of consciousness, and unlike many with his background, he rejects the idea that computers (or their programs) can achieve consciousness.

Towards the end, SILICON veers off into a fascinating discussion of this problem.

https://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Invention...949003418/

The book is very cheap on Kindle and well worth exploring even if you are not interested in the history of microprocessors.

He is also an author of a more recent book (Roger Penrose is also an author):

https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intell...B09WGTQ5B5

However this is much more expensive.

My interpretation of what he is saying is that 'we' are quantum entities evolving in an abstract space in which there is no collapse of the wavefunction.

SILICON must be one of the few books that discusses silicon chips and NDE's!

SILICON must be one of the few books that discusses silicon chips and NDE's!

Have you read the book, David ? If so, what is his take on NDE's ?

Thanks Sci,

That is indeed an interesting talk. He persuades me even more that quantum mechanics is the key to the nature of consciousness. I don't think he means it as an analogy, but as the literal truth.

I like the idea that we can't transmit mind but only a flattened version of ideas. This reminds me of downloading a mathematical paper. That is easy but it doesn't guarantee that I will understand it!

His concept seems to be that mind works in Hilbert space and that has to be collapsed down to text (say) to be transmitted to another person because the no-cloning theorem prevents the copying of the entire quantum state. I think he means this quite literally.

Here is another interview that he did with a transcript.

https://zdoggmd.com/federico-faggin/

Go to the bottom and press "Transcript"

This notion seems to be very counterfactual due to the extensive evidence afforded by the mediumistic communication and NDE data, where in NDEs, say, the NDEer experiences direct telepathic communication with deceased loved ones, in some sort of a supernal spiritual realm of existence. And the medium experiences direct telepathic communication with the disembodied spirit. Not some sort of coded data transmission and receiving along the lines of radio or video data transmission.  

I think that regardless of his extensive credentials and brilliance, Faggin seeems to have blinders on when it comes to the boatload of paranormal data, typical of most relatively mainstream scientists.