Walter Myers on Cloud Computing and Philosophy of Identity
Like many, you may be storing important files and photos in the cloud. But just where is this magical cloud? How is it powered? Is it safe? To answer these questions and more, Mind Matters News host Robert J. Marks is joined by Walter Myers III, a principal engineering manager for Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute. Their conversation provides an overview of cloud computing infrastructure, including an explanation of where the cloud is physically located, the different service models (infrastructure, platform, and software as a service), and the technical details of how data is stored and protected in the cloud. Also discussed are cloud security measures as well as how cloud services scale to meet the growing need for data storage in the 21st century.
Then, this full-length conversation pivots to matters more philosophical! Marks and Myers discuss the philosophical concept of the Ship of Theseus, a paradox about whether an object remains the same after all of its original components have been gradually replaced. Myers explains the history and origins of the paradox and explores how it relates to questions of personal identity, the mind-body problem, and the relationship between the soul and the physical body. The conversation also touches on topics like transhumanism, the nature of consciousness, and the significance of the original creator or ‘author’ in assessing the identity of an object or work of art.
Additional Resources
- Walter Myers at Discovery Institute
- It’s Just an Apparition: Unmasking AI Hype: Walter Myers hosts AI panel at COSM (Video)
- Walter Myers III COSM 2023 Interview (Video)
- The Quintessential Limits and Possibilities of AI: Three Views Walter Myers hosts AI panel at COSM (Video)
- Walter Myers III with Jay Richards at COSM 2022 (Video)
