Could A Machine Be Conscious - 2962 Words

1 Could a machine be conscious? This question is often dismissed as simple by those that would say â€Å"yes† in response. The usual claim made by the pro camp is that man is a ‘biological machine’ and is conscious, ergo, a machine is conscious. If we, humans, are truly biological machines and we are at the same time conscious then I would agree that yes, categorically, a machine could be conscious. But is it really that simple? I contend that it is a more difficult problem but not that it is a complicated one, merely one of ambiguity which, once resolved, leads the contemplator to the same conclusion as I do that in fact, no, a machine could not be conscious. I propose that those who argue the yes case that a machine can be conscious are, in†¦show more content†¦They are all actions definable in their own right, which, I contend need not be sub categories of, or allocated to the definition of consciousness and, unlike the ‘hard problem’ of consciousness which we will come to shortly, they can be explained by science in a physical context and therefore be impersonated by machinery. They have physical qualities which are an important distinction in the 3 concept of Artificial Intelligence which claims the ability of machines to achieve consciousness, arising in theory out of intelligence. The most prominent example of the concept of a machine being intelligent in the manner of this so called consciousness is the Turing test (Turing, 1950) which, rather tellingly, was originally called the ‘Imitation Game’. The test was designed to see if a machine could fool a human into thinking it was itself another human, and although somewhat successful with ‘Eliza’ (Weizenbaum 1976), the premise was quickly, and I opine correctly, attacked by Searle (1980:417-57) in his ‘Chinese Room’ thought experiment, proving that a machine can simulate communication without understanding and is therefore not thinking in the way humans, or perhaps other living things do. Humans exhibit the ability to pass tests without understanding the material and, I contend, this is what a machine simulates, the function of memory, not intelligence. Even if it could fool aShow MoreRelatedAn Aristotelian Theory Of Consciousness1646 Words   |  7 Pagesrange from the ancient Pygmalion’s Galatea, the mythological golem, Victorian automatons, to our more recent fancies- computers, robots and other Turing machines. Perhaps the reason for this preoccupation with art ificial intelligence is actually a quest to better understand our own consciousness. At first sight, the question â€Å"Can a machine be conscious?† appears deceptively simple. However, the answer to this question is entirely dependent on how we define consciousness. We can embark by defining consciousnessRead MoreEmotion As Described And Theorized By Antonio Damasio1366 Words   |  6 PagesDamasio’s work to explain how Block and Chalmers distinguish between conscious awareness and conscious experience. Subsequently, I will resume my focus on Damasio’s work, by evaluating how the aforesaid experiment applies to Damasio’s brain damaged patient. Finally, I will conclude by reflecting on the overall picture of emotion and emotional experience, and use it to discuss the prospects and motivations of building emotional machines. Antonio Damasio considers the phenomena of emotion and feelingRead MoreComputing Machinery And Intelligence By Alan Turing1469 Words   |  6 Pagesquestion of whether machines can think in the same humans can by conceptualizing the question in concrete terms. In simple terms, Turing redefines the question by posing whether a machine can replicate the cognition of a human being. Yet, some may object to the notion that Turing’s new question effectively captures the nature of machines’ capacity for thought or consciousness, such as John Searle. In his Chinese room thought experiment, Searle outlines a scenario that implies machines’ apparent replicationRead MoreAnalysis Of Alan Turing s Can Machines Think?1587 Words   |  7 PagesOn his essay â€Å"Can machines think?† Alan Turing, a great mathematician, and creator of the Turing Test presents us with the initial concept of what is now considered artificial intelligence. He states that eventually, as ti me progresses, machines will be able to think like humans. But, can a machine really think like a human? Can a machine even think on its own, or it is just based on human science and engineering to make computer systems perform tasks that require intelligence when done by humansRead MoreFunctionalism And Its Positive And Negative Arguments1582 Words   |  7 Pagesnegative critiques the identity theory describing what psychological states are not. Argument 1. If something has mental states then it is conscious 2. Humans, animals, and insects have mental sates 3. Therefore humans, animals, and insects are conscious 4. Either computers are conscious or not conscious 5. Computers have mental states 6. Therefore computers are conscious The first question we should ask from the argument above is if it is deductively valid. An argument is valid when it possesses theRead MoreIs It Possible For A Machine?847 Words   |  4 Pages4. Is it possible for a Machine to ‘’think’’? To be ‘’conscious’’? To ‘’understand’’? Explain with reference to your readings in the Philosophy of Mind module. The problem of thought associated with a machine raises ethical issues on a scientific perspective. So, how can we engage and act to develop the systems necessary for a peaceful life for human beings and especially in order not to be responsible for a collapse of humanism by wrapping in an autonomous and dense monitoring system throughoutRead MoreArtificial Intelligence And The Turing Test760 Words   |  4 Pagesartificial intelligence is and the Turing Test. Finally, I will discuss Turing and Searle’s views about the Turing Test and who has the stronger argument. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, artificial intelligence (AI) is, â€Å"The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior† (Webster). What that means is that any electronic thing can perform human behavior. For example, Apple’s Siri, Siri is a component where you can ask your phone to look up the weather, text or call someone, etcRead MoreI Am The Inventor Of A Special New Robot1124 Words   |  5 Pageshave no minds – they are just machines and they will all be destroyed. I disagree with this statement because of two reasons: The function of machines, and the functions of minds. Argument 1 Machines are â€Å"an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task†. In this aspect, the only difference in humans and machines in terms of function is the fact that the purpose for a machine may vary and the purpose forRead MoreEssay On Do We Have A Mind959 Words   |  4 Pagesother Sci-Fi film we see machines and robots that talk. Today’s machines and computers talk as well but will they talk like we do? And by that I mean not necessarily having a specific voice or language because, sure, they can repeat a sentence and make noises, but do they understand what they are saying and do they mean it? Take Siri for an example we rely on advice from her/him on our phones when we need assistance, however she doesn’t recognize our voice and makes a conscious decision to help us,Read MoreFunctionalism1324 Words   |  6 Pagescombination of the Behaviorist theory and the Identity theory. Behaviorism believes being in a mental state is the same as a physical state, which is an observable behavioral characteristic. For instance, if one claims they are unhappy, their physical state could include a frowning face or improper posture. On the other hand, the Identity Theory suggests when you experience something; there is a corresponding neurological state. The error with these two theories is Behaviorism fails to incorporate mental states