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How do you know computers don't experience their existence? We assume because they behave predictably that this indicates they are unaware automata, but assume
by CuriouslyC 10y ago
How do you know computers don't experience their existence? We assume because they behave predictably that this indicates they are unaware automata, but assume I asked you if you would like me to put a gun to your head and pull the trigger. You would answer no with extremely high probability. Just because your answer is predictable doesn't indicate that there is no awareness behind it. In fact, there is almost certainly something that it is "like" to be a tightly coupled system of transistors. Of course, that experience is undoubtedly very different from ours.
Part of the problem is that consciousness is a nebulous term that conflates awareness, self-awareness and intelligence. Specifically, I'm only speaking of awareness here.
Also, when sand undergoes chemical reactions, how do you know that isn't a simple form of information processing?
- FabHK 10y agoAgreed on the predictability. In fact, I'm a bit of compatibilist, i.e. subscribing to the notion that free will and determinism are compatible. And I've seen the argument being made that consciousness is fundamental and prior to anything else (Chalmers? Don't recall.) But I disagree for now, and I think awareness is an emergent property dependent on various pre-conditions (like perception, a model of self, possibly "embodied cognition" (not sure about that), etc.), and it's absurd to speak of a few atoms having awareness. (With modern computers, we might be getting there at some point...)