----- Original Message -----
From: "J. R. Molloy" <jr@shasta.com>
To: <extropians@extropy.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: Non-sensory experiences
> From: "Webb, Steve" <swebb@asce.org>
> > From: J. R. Molloy [mailto:jr@shasta.com]
> > > That particular cognitive incident is accompanied by
> > > feelings, which I conjecture are generated by the ENS, and
> > > these feelings comprise the experience. Without the sensory
> > > input of gut feelings, the frustration, irritation,
> > > annoyance, etc., which comprise the emotional event, no
> > > experience ensues.
> >
> > Emotional events are sensory inputs?
>
> Yes, gut feelings constitute sensory inputs to the brain.
>
> > Suppose I'm mulling over two
> > concepts in my head -- very abstract concepts like, say, government and
> > freedom, which are themselves difficult to map back to any sensory
> > input. Suddenly I realize a novel interrelationship between the two and
> > experience that wonderful "eureka!" feeling. Given the definition of
> > sensory you've provided, which sense organ is associated with the
> > experience?
>
> Although the brain registers it, that wonderful feeling (note that it is a
> *feeling* rather than a concept) has its origin somewhere outside the brain
> (which is incapable of any feeling -- that's why it's not necessary to
> anesthetize the brain itself during surgery), and for this reason, I
> conjecture that the feeling originates in the ENS.
>
> --- --- --- --- ---
>
> Useless hypotheses, etc.:
> consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
> analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
> uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment, malevolent AI
>
> We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
>
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