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“Recently I was with a group of mathematicians and philosophers. One philosopher asked me whether I believed man was a machine. I replied, ‘Do you really think it makes any difference?’ He most earnestly replied, ‘Of course! To me it is the most important question in philosophy.’
"I had the following afterthoughts: I imagine that if my friend had finally come to the conclusion that he were a machine, he would be infinitely crestfallen. I think he would think: ‘My God! How horrible! I am only a machine!’ But if I should find out I were a machine, my attitude would be totally different. I would say: ‘How amazing! I never before realised that machines could be so marvellous!’”
~ Raymond Smullyan from his book This Book Needs No Title. Hat tip Stephen Hicks, who reckons this to be his favourite response on the issue of 'physicalism' and human dignity.
~ Raymond Smullyan from his book This Book Needs No Title. Hat tip Stephen Hicks, who reckons this to be his favourite response on the issue of 'physicalism' and human dignity.
English (US) ·