Are You a Robot?

(Graphics are by Don Sebach 1974)

Tonight's meeting is on the classic philosophical self-inquiry question of to what degree are you a robot? (I do this meeting around twice a year as it is a very big topic that is worth that kind of exploration I feel).

And by the implication of being robotic, then to what degree can you become free of being a robot? Is it possible to completely transcend our robotic nature or is the very best we can do be only to observe our robotic nature?

Here are some generic questions inspired by the meeting's topic:

Are You a Robot?

Are you motivated by desires?

Are you manipulated by urges?

Is the world you live in merely a paradigm?

Is reality for you only thoughts, concepts and feelings?

Is fear, love, likes and dislikes only reactions as guides to survival?

Are all interactions with others a means to obtaining what you need?

Are all actions learned or innate habit patterns?

Is “That which you really are” substituted by identities?

Do beliefs and understanding substitute for knowing?

Are free will and freedom of choice excuses for any of these manipulations?

What is the origin of your next thought?

How would an awake and conscious individual react to these questions?

How would someone mechanically-driven and internally manipulated react to these questions?

People don't like to hear that they might be mechanical.
Being a robot suggests that we are programmed.

Check out the "What we are about" section in the groups' main page for some guidelines we work to adhere to. Meetings are run on the popular Zoom platform. Please contemplate the topic in advance of the meeting to get the best out of it and bring your views and convictions to the meeting, if possible have a pen and paper close by to record anything useful that may come up that you resonate with on the night, little things you may want to contemplate further.