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“performs the same functions and mathematical computations as a computer and is designed to contain data for use by a computer” I can do the same functions and
by Yizahi 7y ago
“performs the same functions and mathematical computations as a computer and is designed to contain data for use by a computer”
I can do the same functions and mathematical computations as a computer and can contain data to use by a computer (numbers basically). Am I a computer? From a legal point of view.
- jobigoud 7y agoYes as you may know in the fifties "computer" was the job description for humans doing the calculations at NASA. cf. Hidden Figures.
- cr0sh 7y agoTechnically you're a robot made from meat - a "meat-based machine". You can flip your argument around - at what point do your consider a computer to be the equivalent of a human? At what point does such a machine deserve what we currently call "human rights"? I'm not expecting you to answer this, but rather think about it; it's an interesting question and topic, with lots of philosophic undertones, questions, etc. It can't really be answered, because we don't know how we actually work; that is, how does "mind" arise from "brain"? What is consciousness? Can a machine become so? Does the substrate, organic vs inorganic, ultimately matter? It's a trip down a rabbit hole with (currently) no end in sight...
- Yizahi 7y agoYes, this a fascinating problem and will stay for decades at least. Personally, at this point in time, I would say that machine which could imitate human and make independent decisions should be considered human. Though threshold of the "independence" and "sufficiency" is very hazy. And by the same logic I don't consider newborn human kids entirely "human" for first year at least, since they obviously don't possess same level of consciousness as humans with fully grown brain (or close to it).