S
Sciborg_S_Patel
So this is likely breaks down into (at least) two questions:
1) Can programs be sentient/conscious entities?
2) Can androids be sentient/conscious entities?
I'd reply No to 1), because I don't think programs alone can fix meanings. I think any stand-alone piece of a mechanistic system (like a Turing machine) has infinite possible meanings, and I think trying to fix that piece's meaning in terms of other pieces only leads to infinite regress.
I'd reply Maybe to 2), as I think a synthetic brain could at least solve the easy part of the Hard Problem, namely the structures that are necessary for presence of consciousness. It might be that these structures suffice to evoke consciousness from the proto-consciousness in matter, to evoke an alter from Mind@Large, etc. I don't think you need to figure out which metaphysical "-ism" is correct to produce a sentient life form. I mean we can have kids after all?
1) Can programs be sentient/conscious entities?
2) Can androids be sentient/conscious entities?
I'd reply No to 1), because I don't think programs alone can fix meanings. I think any stand-alone piece of a mechanistic system (like a Turing machine) has infinite possible meanings, and I think trying to fix that piece's meaning in terms of other pieces only leads to infinite regress.
I'd reply Maybe to 2), as I think a synthetic brain could at least solve the easy part of the Hard Problem, namely the structures that are necessary for presence of consciousness. It might be that these structures suffice to evoke consciousness from the proto-consciousness in matter, to evoke an alter from Mind@Large, etc. I don't think you need to figure out which metaphysical "-ism" is correct to produce a sentient life form. I mean we can have kids after all?
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