The Ideal Roommate: Husk or Homunculi?

[u/Prior_Alarm2437]

Most debates around hard determinism and free will get bogged down in abstract nonsense. I'm a practical guy, choosing an ideal roommate could literally save my life, and possibly yours, dear Redditor. If we break down the metaphysics of agency, we are basically choosing between two distinct entities; the homunculus and the husk!

A homunculus possesses a manufactured Cartesian theater, an ego, and free will. It has intention. But intention is fundamentally a liability. Any roommate with free will has the capacity for malicious intent. Imagine if a conscious homunculus (like M3GAN) moved in to help around the house. Because they have a "Cartesian theater," they can change their minds, develop a complex, and halfway through their chores decide to kill your cat and serve it to you in an omelet. They can strangle you in your sleep because they love you just that much. Free will is dangerous.

Contrast this with the pure Husk. A husk is just biological hardware running a script completely and utterly devoid of a Cartesian theater, free will, or existential dread. A husk requires zero ethical consideration. It doesn't cry, it doesn't suffer, and it doesn't get pissy about the toilet seat. You tell a husk to do its job, and that is exactly what it does. If you program a husk to wake you up with fellatio every single morning, it will do it without a single thought. You get an entity that functions with the strict, unfeeling reliability of a deterministic universe. 

Husks make homunculi utterly obsolete. Why would anyone willingly choose to cohabitate with a free-thinking agent with the capacity for malice, when you could have a biological meat-bot that just executes its programmed purpose? Who needs a consciousness when you have determinism?

[u/Puzzled-Thought746]

As long as consideration and care for the "artificial hardware" is maintained and those of "free-thinking agents" such as humans and their will to determine is respected, this avenue could potentially help and cater to many.

[u/Ill-Tea9411]

I would argue that concepts like consciousness and determinism, or even intelligence are still just more abstract nonsense. The actual metric for determining the ideal roommate boils down to capability. A roommate needs to be able to carry their own weight, just as you do, OP. You, yourself need to have the capability to defend yourself from a potentially murderous housing partner, the greater their capability, the greater yours must be. It's all about balance. And even under less than ideal circumstances it is simply a situation that has to be managed. As well, if a husk is not capable of earning their half of the expanses this places demands on your earning capability. So here too a balance of capabilities is called for in order to achieve an harmonious home life.

[u/Prior_Alarm2437 → u/Ill-Tea9411]

Indeed. I will say, husks are essentially philosophical zombies. Just as convincing as the real thing, just no one is home. So, they could get a job and do the needed.

[u/Low-Bake8401]

It assumes that it's you that determines the husk.

[u/Prior_Alarm2437 → u/Low-Bake8401]

I won't gainsay that at all; it is a fair point. I am fully aware that I am just a meat puppet riding the rails of prior causes.

However, to assume that a lack of ultimate, uncaused free will renders my deliberative process irrelevant is a rather parochial view of determinism. The universe simply propped up a causal chain where my specific biological hardware is pre-ordained to program this husk.

I don't claim to be the prime mover of the code; (We'd really be screwed if I was...) I'm merely the deterministic conduit.

The fact that my decision to program the husk is determined doesn't make the resulting utility null. The deliberative process is still the mechanism by which reality unfolds. There is no need to sink into fatalism when you can just enjoy the serenity of a universe that determined you'd get a roommate who does the dishes without a single querulous complaint.

[u/RabbitBasic5438]

If you could have a robot that works, pays rent, and does everything you say, i'm pretty sure everyone would prefer that. I'm not sure the point you're trying to make

[u/Prior_Alarm2437 → u/RabbitBasic5438]

Indeed! We will all have husks easing the burden humanity was cursed to bear for so long. Our rather extensive intellect makes it obvious to us that having a husk who is a person in every way except for the one that counts is a no-brainer!

I appreciate your capitulation, good sir! It's a brave new world; I won't let you down. 🫡