Philosophy Now Forum

Binary
There is confused thinking regarding binary thinking. Relative to ethical values it is not realistic. To say there are two sexes is quite another matter, since it is not a value. It is a fact about human biology as it has evolved, with some people perhaps intersex against naturally evolved ‘intention’. If some people have feelings that are not binary, then they may or may not be tolerated according to how we use ethical values. A mutually responsible altruist society may well tolerate such private individual behaviour, without considering it an ideal of any kind. A purely individualist society, and a unitary authoritarian society, will act accordingly but not in complete contradiction. An authoritarian society will naturally think in a binary way of right and wrong, and an individualist society will be almost entirely neutral.

if AI could "think" it would be binary... it is nothing but a series of on and off switches (much like an interpretation of the neural net) leading to great confusion... human thinking could be limited to biological/physical events in a brain yet there are degrees of human judgment of qualia which are not purely binary..is the light on/off? yes but it is dim... you'd have to program a choice to enhance the judgment options which might give the illusion of being more than binary...

-Imp

Impenitent wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 4:25 pm.is the light on/off? yes but it is dim... you'd have to program a choice to enhance the judgment options which might give the illusion of being more than binary...

-Imp

You don't think binary computers could have things like telling if a light is dim rather than fully on or off?

Impenitent wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 4:25 pm if AI could "think" it would be binary... it is nothing but a series of on and off switches (much like an interpretation of the neural net) leading to great confusion... human thinking could be limited to biological/physical events in a brain yet there are degrees of human judgment of qualia which are not purely binary..is the light on/off? yes but it is dim... you'd have to program a choice to enhance the judgment options which might give the illusion of being more than binary...

-Imp

Run this through a computer, any computer that can sense light:

1. Is the light on?
2. If yes, store “on” & go to 4.
3. If no, provider answer.
4. Is the light bright?
5. If yes, store “bright” & go to 7.
6. If no, go to 7.
7. Is the light flickering?
8. If yes, store “flickering” & go to 10.
9. If no, go to 10.
etc

This is an exercise in basic logic, and otherwise not a philosophical question. It demonstrates that a composite answer can be attained via a series of binary questions.

EVERY decision a human makes is binary.

attofishpi wrote: ↑Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:04 am EVERY decision a human makes is binary.

And absolutely every one of those binary decisions/choices was, is, and will be made freely.

RWStanding wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 2:42 pm Binary
There is confused thinking regarding binary thinking. Relative to ethical values it is not realistic. To say there are two sexes is quite another matter, since it is not a value. It is a fact about human biology as it has evolved, with some people perhaps intersex against naturally evolved ‘intention’.

And let us not forget that some human bodies are born with both what is loosely called 'sexes'.

RWStanding wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 2:42 pm If some people have feelings that are not binary, then they may or may not be tolerated according to how we use ethical values.

And how exactly do 'we', or 'you', use so-called 'ethical values'?

Maybe if you start by informing 'us' of what the term or phrase 'ethical values' means and/or refers to, exactly, firstly?

And then 'we' proceed, from there?

RWStanding wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 2:42 pm A mutually responsible altruist society may well tolerate such private individual behaviour, without considering it an ideal of any kind.

What exact 'behavior' have you now come to talk about and refer to here?

your previous sentence was about 'feelings', only.

RWStanding wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 2:42 pm A purely individualist society, and a unitary authoritarian society, will act accordingly but not in complete contradiction. An authoritarian society will naturally think in a binary way of right and wrong, and an individualist society will be almost entirely neutral.

Okay, if you say and believe so. But where and what is the purported 'confused thinking' here, exactly. Just saying 'it' is in regards to 'binary thinking' does not provide much light on the issue, nor provide absolute any solution to the purported confusion here.