Paul Pruiett
wrote:
*****
I
understand that this is what you think that you think... but I feel that it is
wrong
First, there is no "right" to attribute to a software
program "mental awareness". It is simply an error. The error is not
insignificant. It is critical and making this error over and over again
without learning is a big problem.
***
In my view, current software programs have very little
if any mental awareness. But this does not imply that future ones can't
have any.
You're of course not the only smart person on Earth to
believe software can never have awareness. Roger Penrose has become famous
for putting forth a similar view, in his books "The Emperor's New Mind" and
"Shadows of the Mind".
But I read Penrose's arguments carefully and found them
quite unconvincing....
To those interested in the philosophy of awareness
& its relationship to AGI, I highly recommend Daniel Dennett's critique of
Penrose's claims. I think it's in his book Brainstorms. [Although I
don't agree with Dennett's complete reductionist approach to consciousness in
"Consciousness Explained", I also like his essay on pattern metaphysics in
Brainstorms.]
--
Ben
