Is AI Inherently Dualistic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Picklehead
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ai
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on whether the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is inherently dualistic, referencing Searle's Chinese Room argument. Participants argue that while minds are products of brains, the creation of an artificial brain could lead to an artificial mind without implying dualism. The conversation highlights the distinction between intelligent software and the potential for artificial minds, suggesting that dualism may only apply to certain interpretations of AI.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Searle's Chinese Room argument
  • Familiarity with the concepts of computational equivalence
  • Knowledge of the distinction between hardware and software duality
  • Awareness of the philosophical implications of artificial minds
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Searle's Chinese Room argument on AI development
  • Explore the concept of computational equivalence in AI systems
  • Investigate the philosophical debates surrounding artificial minds and consciousness
  • Examine the differences between intelligent software and artificial intelligence
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, AI researchers, cognitive scientists, and anyone interested in the implications of artificial intelligence on the understanding of consciousness and dualism.

Picklehead
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
Question: Is the concept of AI inherently dualistic? I personally don't believe so, but after reading Searl's Chinese Room argument, he does bring up a good point.

Minds, as we currently know them, reside in, or are the products of, or are our brains. Is the idea that we can take what goes on in our heads and separate it completely from what is actually in our heads, and use that to create a completely differently substrate that does the same thing not just an example of computational equivalence, but also subtly dualistic?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Picklehead said:
Question: Is the concept of AI inherently dualistic? I personally don't believe so, but after reading Searl's Chinese Room argument, he does bring up a good point.

Minds, as we currently know them, reside in, or are the products of, or are our brains. Is the idea that we can take what goes on in our heads and separate it completely from what is actually in our heads, and use that to create a completely differently substrate that does the same thing not just an example of computational equivalence, but also subtly dualistic?

Perhaps in the trivial way of software/hardware duality. I should think that the fact that I can copy the information from a floppy onto my PC and then burn the same information onto a CD-ROM is the same concept.
 
That's a tricky one!
In many ways, the answer ot this question seems to hinge upon what is meant by the word 'artificial' in AI.
If we accept Searle's axiom that 'brains cause minds', then surely, an 'artificial' brain could cause an artificial mind, and arguably, the mind so caused would be artificial only in the sense of having been created, rather than born of a parent; it would be an actual mind, nonetheless. If such an artificial mind is caused by an artificial brain with artificial qualia, then no duality need be inferred.
This is not the same as the concept of AI in the form of intelligent software, which does indeed appear to suggest dualism.
I'm confused...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
793
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K