LYCAN ONLY “HUMAN CHAUVINISTS” DENY ROBOT CONSCIOUSNESS

William Lycan

Three kinds of questions (343) A. Will a computer ever be able to do X? (X: intelligent things like understanding jokes, having conversations, writing stories,…) B. If so, will it do X like we do X? C. If it could do X, Y, Z,…, would it have property P? (P: essential properties of human minds like consciousness, emotion,…) Types A and B are empirical (scientific). Type C is philosophical and conceptual. Lycan will answer all questions of type C at once.

Harry Argument (344) PREMISES i) Harry is a robot. ii) Assume: questions of types A and B are answered affirmatively. iii) Assume: Harry passes Turing Test with ease.

Harry Argument INFERENCE 1 We use Turing Test alone to learn other people are conscious. - not a proof [“zombies” are conceivable], but sufficient for “practical or moral certainty.” SO: Only a) origin orb) composition distinguish Harry from a person.

Harry Argument INFERENCE 2 SO: Denying Harry personal status on basis of a) origin orb) composition is mere prejudice. INFERENCE 3 SO: We must [on moral grounds?] conclude Harry is conscious.

Henrietta argument (344-5) PREMISES 1. Henrietta is a person who gradually becomes a robot by having her neurons replaced one-by-one with electronic devices. [Compare: cochlear implants.] 2. She continuously passes Turing Test for being Henrietta.

Henrietta argument INFERENCES 1. There is no principled way to choose a point at which Henrietta may be said to lose her consciousness. SO: 2. She doesn’t lose consciousness. SO: 3. She is still the same person. SO: 4. She is a (robot) person.

Free-Will and Robots Soft Determinism (SD) or LIbertarianism DEF of SD: to be free is to act from own beliefs, desires, etc., rather than being compelled or coerced by external forces. Both people and robots are free in this sense. And unpredictable.