Metaphysics, intelligence, God

[MrRubix]

The difference here is that you're limiting the argument to a purely sensational concept when that concept is physical in nature. That's all I'm getting at. I mean, if you want to resort to "What if everything's just in your mind and nothing actually exists," I think that's taking it too far. I mean to say that the "thing without proof" is that sentience is outside of physical construct. If this is not what you're trying to prove in our real world, then what is the point of your thought experiment? What question are you trying to address?

As for qualia, that is incorrect. Check out something like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualia -- a robot doesn't "feel" pain because it doesn't have the capability for it. You can program it to interpret what pain is, even if it can't process it on a deeper level that doesn't exist physically. A pain experience is a function of our sensory inputs. These sensory inputs can be replicated. Just because we can't explain something with words may not imply that the sensation itself can't be imposed in signal format. Qualia exists only to the extent that input devices put a slight variance on an experience resultant of every and all influencing factors, no matter how small or large.

Regarding your last paragraph, I understand what it would mean to "change perspectives." This could be accomplished by swapping memories alone! My question though: What practical application does this have? What are you trying to solve with that thought experiment? And, again, why believe in an external, higher intelligence?