5 ms·

We have no definition of consciousness, so it's impossible to say whether machine consciousness is possible, or whether we have it already.

chrischen 17y ago
I think the definition of consciousness is implied as whatever we humans are experiencing right now. So for a computer to be truly realizing its own existence, it would have to be modeled after ourselves.
- joeyo 17y ago
  The problem is you have to believe what the computer tells you when it says it has consciousness. (In the same way that I have to believe you when you say you have consciousness).
- rabidsnail 17y ago
  Then what's the point? Why would we want to make a machine modeled after humans, which are not particularly well adapted for doing any of the things that we want done in the modern world, when a machine designed to perform practical tasks (like a computer) would be much better? We shouldn't assume that we humans are the best at everything. We shouldn't assume that we humans are the best at anything, really.
naveensundar 17y ago
Some philosopher said this sometime back regarding Penrose's theory: (I can't find the original so might be a bit different) "Quantum Computation in microtubules is as explanatory as magical pixie dust in the brain" We can substitute pretty much anything for the first noun phrase: " X is as explanatory as magical pixie dust in the brain "
joubert 17y ago
You may perhaps be confusing "definition" with "understanding". My dictionary defines consciousness thus: consciousness |ˈkän ch əsnəs| noun the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings : she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later. • the awareness or perception of something by a person : her acute consciousness of Mike's presence. • the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world : consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain. ==== We may not know HOW consciousness comes about, but we do have a definition of what consciousness is.
- rabidsnail 17y ago
  awake(p): not in a state of sleep; completely conscious; "lay awake thinking about his new job"; "still not fully awake" And now we're in an infinite loop.
- beza1e1 17y ago
  rabidsnail was probably talking about a "formal definition" not a short description in a dictionary. The key to artificial intelligence is to develop a mathematical model of intelligence/consciousness. Something like "An intelligent being is a 5-tuple ..." With this model we can calculate intelligent responses/development and a Turing machine can calculate. Therefore one can implement an AI on a computer. If there is no such model or we can't find it for some reason we won't develop an AI.
  - joubert 17y ago
    Does one really need a mathematical model in order to claim one has a "definition". Isn't a mathematical model's role to "understand" something (and hence predict)?

chrischen 17y ago

I think the definition of consciousness is implied as whatever we humans are experiencing right now. So for a computer to be truly realizing its own existence, it would have to be modeled after ourselves.

joeyo 17y ago
The problem is you have to believe what the computer tells you when it says it has consciousness. (In the same way that I have to believe you when you say you have consciousness).
rabidsnail 17y ago
Then what's the point? Why would we want to make a machine modeled after humans, which are not particularly well adapted for doing any of the things that we want done in the modern world, when a machine designed to perform practical tasks (like a computer) would be much better? We shouldn't assume that we humans are the best at everything. We shouldn't assume that we humans are the best at anything, really.

naveensundar 17y ago

Some philosopher said this sometime back regarding Penrose's theory: (I can't find the original so might be a bit different) "Quantum Computation in microtubules is as explanatory as magical pixie dust in the brain" We can substitute pretty much anything for the first noun phrase: " X is as explanatory as magical pixie dust in the brain "

joubert 17y ago

You may perhaps be confusing "definition" with "understanding". My dictionary defines consciousness thus: consciousness |ˈkän ch əsnəs| noun the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings : she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later. • the awareness or perception of something by a person : her acute consciousness of Mike's presence. • the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world : consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain. ==== We may not know HOW consciousness comes about, but we do have a definition of what consciousness is.

rabidsnail 17y ago
awake(p): not in a state of sleep; completely conscious; "lay awake thinking about his new job"; "still not fully awake" And now we're in an infinite loop.
beza1e1 17y ago
rabidsnail was probably talking about a "formal definition" not a short description in a dictionary. The key to artificial intelligence is to develop a mathematical model of intelligence/consciousness. Something like "An intelligent being is a 5-tuple ..." With this model we can calculate intelligent responses/development and a Turing machine can calculate. Therefore one can implement an AI on a computer. If there is no such model or we can't find it for some reason we won't develop an AI.
- joubert 17y ago
  Does one really need a mathematical model in order to claim one has a "definition". Isn't a mathematical model's role to "understand" something (and hence predict)?