BRENT SILBY
Articles in Philosophy
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
