qbit

I'm not sure that it will settle anything. Even if you built a brain that functioned identically to a human brain, one can never prove that the brain is experiencing/creating consciousness. It could always be argued that the brain is just mimicking function but lacks subjective awareness. Since we have no way of measuring consciousness even in a human brain, how will be prove that a man-made brain is conscious.

Morality is not subjective? Can you explain how one determines, in an objective way, whether or not an act is moral? Is there a fundamental theorem of morality that I am unaware of?

"This points to a very deep fact about the nature of the universe, namely, that our minds, which invent mathematics, conform to the reality of the cosmos. We are somehow tuned in to its truths. Since pure thought can penetrate the universe's mysteries, this seems to be telling us that something about human consciousness is harmonious with the mind of God"

Why is it surprising that our minds "conform to the reality of the cosmos"? They are, after all, part of the cosmos. Yes, our minds are harmonious with nature (call it God, if you must) because our minds are nature.

Interesting article. I have been intrigued with photography for a while now. My girlfriend recently bought a dslr and I've been snapping some shots here and there but I have no idea what I'm doing. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good book to learn fundamental techniques in digital photography?