[ExI] Digital Consciousness

[Stathis Papaioannou]

On 05/05/2013, at 2:30 PM, Gordon <gts_2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> On Sun, May 5, 2013 at 9:25 AM, Gordon <gts_2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >> That looks like a contradiction to me. How is the reproduction of
> >> conscious-like behavior different from the reproduction of the functional
> >> behavior of a system that we know to be conscious?
> 
> >If we make a computer that behaves intelligently we cannot be sure
> >that it is conscious. However, if we make computer that replicates the
> >function of a human brain, replacing neurons with artificial neurons
> >that respond to inputs in the same way and produce similar outputs,
> > then we can be sure that the resulting hybrid has the same
> > consciousness as the original all biological brain. 
> 
> I think where functionalism is concerned, it applies to any level. An artificial brain that functions like an organic brain is as good as an assembly of artificial neurons that functions like an assembly of organic neurons. You probably cannot have one without the other.

Yes, if the artificial brain is based on the architecture of the biological brain you can be sure it will have the consciousness of the original brain: for example, that red will look to it as red did with the original brain. But with a radically different AI you can't be sure of this. After all, you can't be sure of the nature of the consciousness, if any, of non-human life forms.
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