my new book, if it ever gets writ, is very much about this; i think consciousness is, like chemistry and biology, a ‘pattern property’ that can exist in some universes which allow complex interactions, but not in universes which do not allow complex interactions. if a pattern can model external stimuli or patterns internally, it behaves in a mindlike way. the question is, how much of this behavior is required for ‘consciousness’? we do so much unconsciously; walking for example. one can sleepwalk quite unconsciously, and perform various actions while doing so. if a humanoid robot can walk about, talking and dealing with people, is it conscious, or is it more like a sleepwalker? we are so far from even being able to discuss the matter without saying stupid things. one reason the story is giving me so much trouble is that most such stories are stupid in some major way, and i’m trying to avoid that; the grossest stupidity is that a lightning bolt can create consciousness! subtler stupidities include the repulsive fate of the robot boy in a.i. who is programmed to imprint and love his ‘mother’ to a stalkerish degree; he ends up getting thawed out in a world where humans are extinct, but the advanced robots or aliens who discover him can revive her for a single day; she then dies/disappears as soon as she falls asleep. a tale of astonishing cruelty (marvin minsky once called it a ‘stunningly bad’ film, while i considered it not so much bad, as bleak and cynical to a degree not quite supported by the facts.
i am anxiously awaiting said book tom. not to add any pressure to the already crushing amount i’m sure you place on yourself. sounds very interesting. as always would love to do some illustration work… nudge nudge.
yeah, a.i. was fairly silly i must say. a missed opportunity. everyone hated the aliens ending but i would rather the movie had started there.
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.