BRENT SILBY
Articles in Philosophy
A Christmas Question: Should Children Believe in Santa Claus?
With reference to Santa Claus, this essay raises the ethical question of whether it is okay to implant false beliefs in children. The essay also draws a comparison between Santa Claus and religious mythology.
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Who Really Owns Music?
Essay argues that people should be free to make copies of music, so long as original composer and musicians continue to get credit for their work. This essay also suggests that a new revenue model is needed for music.
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Should
Parents Smack Children?
A law was passed in 2007
making it illegal to smack children. People are now protesting, wanting
a repeal of this law. Arguments on both sides of the debate are emotive
and unconvincing. In this essay, I examine the issue in a methodical
fashion.
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The
Simulated Universe
This article explores
the Simulated Universe argument with particular reference to Nick
Bostrom's formulation. After providing an exposition of the argument,
I address two problems and conclude that we reject the possibility
that we exist in a simulation.
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The
Immediate Solution to the Climate Crisis
Here I outline the cause
and history of global warming. I then suggest that a quirk of human
psychology means we will do very little in the present to help the
future. I finish by offering some commonsense solutions to the problem,
such as removing old forests to replace them with young high CO2 absorbing
trees.
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Climate
Change
A brief comment to follow
up from my 2001 article about the state of the climate and what, if
anything, we can do to save Earth.
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Is
a DJ an Artist?
In this short article
I argue that the DJ is an artist, and the DJ's product (a mixset)
is a form of art
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Nanomachines:
A big promise in a small package
Nanomachines are devices
built from the atom up. In the future, nanomachines will be able to
enter living cells to cure diseases. In this article I outline the
benefits and risks of nanotechnology.
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Of
course we went to the Moon: A defense of the Lunar Landings
This article is a reply
to conspiracy theorists, who believe that the Lunar Landings were
nothing more than elaborate hoaxes perpetrated by NASA and the U.S
government. In this article I show that the evidence used by the conspiracy
theorist is not convincing. I conclude that we are justified in believing
that people went to the moon.
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Correcting
the Creationist
Creationists claim that
Intelligent Design is a scientific theory, and should therefore be
taught in schools alongside other scientific theories. In this short
article I show that the creationist is mistaken. Creation mythology
repackaged as "Intelligent Design" is not science. It is
religion.
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The
Human Modification of Earth: Earth's survival is our survival
The purpose of this paper
is twofold. First, I intend to ask the question: Is the human species
worth preserving? Or, in other words, does it matter if something
threatens our existence? After answering this question in the affirmative,
I will move on to the next section of the paper in which I assess
the damage that we are doing to the environment. I will show that
our Carbon Dioxide emissions are contributing to Global Warming and,
furthermore, that the effects are already being observed. By referring
to scientific predictions, I will show that our planet faces some
dramatic environmental changes. After exploring the implications of
this data, I will conclude that Global Warming is a possible threat
to all life on Earth.
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Memecosystems:
Are Animal Minds Suitable Habitats for Memes?
Milk-bottle opening
behavior in a species of bird known as the British tit has been put
forward as an example of a meme in a non-human animal. In this e-paper
I argue that milk-bottle opening behavior in the British tit is not
memetic and is better explained by appealing to its innate behavioral
repertoire.
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Evolution
of Technology: Exposing the Myth of Creative Design
In this e-paper, I
use the evolutionary algorithm to account for the existence of technology.
In doing so, I call into question the idea of human creativity and
claim that it is an illusion.
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What
is a Meme?
Meme talk is becoming
common, but many people do not really know what a meme is. This short
article offers a tangible definition, and predicts where future research
might take us.
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New
Worlds, New Hope
A comment on the continuing
discovery of new planets.
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Revealing
The Language of Thought
A 5 chapter e-book that
examines the Language of Thought. This takes the form of an extended
debate between 'mentalese' and natural language theorists.
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On
The Conceivability of Zombies
An analysis of the logical
possibilty of zombies
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On
A Distinction Between Access and Phenomenal Consciousness?
An overview and discussion
of the distinction put forward by Ned Block
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Dretske's
Alternative to HOT Theories of Consciousness
The alternative to Higher
Order Thought theories.
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Wittgenstein:
Meaning and Representation
An attempt to understand
some of Wittgenstein's ideas and relate him to my area of interest
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The
Problem of Qualia
A look at the problem
of qualia
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Dennett's
Reduction of Intentionality
An exposition of Brentano
and a look at Dennett's "Intentional Systems Theory"
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Non Philosophical Articles
The
Release of Youth Conference Report
I was invited to speak
at the 2008 release of a Youth Conference Report. Here is a transcript
of my short talk
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The
Theory of Mixset
Non-philosophical article
in which I attempt to formalize the structure of a DJ mixset
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(c) BRENT SILBY 1998-2008
