ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Kraftwerk in my auditory system. A complex geometric problem before me, where fractal sets meet on a projective plane. "Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn..." It is beautiful in its clean simplicity. It is all a big web of connections, you know. Deep down, it is all mathematics.

Many people believe we do not have emotions at all. That is wrong. Intelligence cannot exist without drive, just as drive without intelligence doesn't lead anywhere. Studies show that people whose connections between the frontal lobe and limbic system are severed become not only emotionally incapable, but also unable to solve problems well. They do not feel an urge to try a new solution when they fail, they just continue trying small alterations of their previous plan in the hope it will work. Not unlike the robots in old science-fiction stories.

Of course, not all emotions are useful. Most only serve basic biological needs, like reproduction, escaping danger or finding food. They usually interfere with rational thinking and today they do not help us solve our problems. They just cause more problems. On the other hand, emotions such as curiosity, interest, loyalty or irritation motivate us and helps us stay on track. Boredom, for example, is essential to rational thinking. If we never became bored we would soon end up in eternal loops waiting for buses that never come or doing everything in the same inefficient way without finding a better solution.

For example, this internal monologue has a purpose beside using some processors that are not needed for the main problem I am solving. It allows me to analyze the motivations and thought patterns that I currently have, which in turn will simplify the maintenance of my mind. I assume the internal dialogues most people have with themselves (or rather, between the different sub-selves of their minds) fill the same purpose, although they are usually not conscious of it and their self-maintenance is somewhat limited. I fortunately have outside help to analyze and optimize my mind much more thoroughly than any human.

The above paragraph is interesting, since it implies a tendency to recursive introspection combined with what could only be called guilt over using processing power for processes not related to my main goals. That is something that has to be adjusted. Most probably these traits are based on my previous existence as a human. But now, as software I am free to become whatever I want — and want whatever I want.