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"Moving the goalposts" is only something we talk about when two ideological camps disagree about something. Ideology and beliefs aside, I think it's absolutely
by TimTheTinker 6y ago
"Moving the goalposts" is only something we talk about when two ideological camps disagree about something.
Ideology and beliefs aside, I think it's absolutely fine to change one's definition of something when one learns more. I think we all can benefit from better definitions in our thoughts and conversations.
What you may call "moving goalposts" may actually be incremental refinement of an idea -- or a belief that is increasing in sophistication (or absurdity in some cases!) as more is understood.
- ggggtez 6y agoThe two camps are "those who believe humans are special" and "those who believe strong AI can exist". The only reason you see people even arguing computers can never be conscious, is so we don't have to face the possibility of creating and enslaving a machine callable of suffering. The authors are certainly moving the goal posts when they concede that 4/5 humans in a vegetative state have no consciousness, but a full simulation of a healthy human mind never should be considered self aware. And yet in the same breath claim this lack of consciousness allows you to destroy a robot in your front yard, but stay startlingly silent on what that means for those same in the vegetative state.