Are the concepts of 'reflect' ' protest' and 'crying out in pain' aspects of folk wisdom?.I do see the question of anthromorphising ideas of 'artificial intelligence' as questionable. However, it does raise the issue of a higher order of intelligence and consciousness, as aspects of rationality and qualia. How may this be established clearly and, is it fettered by the sentient aspects of human perception and thinking?.

With the guidelines I am wondering how the entries are going to be different from thread topics. It may simply be that many are longer and less of raising a question. Also, the creative aspects may get lost if it becomes too academic. The guidelines specify poetry only being used as illustration, but it is unclear if the use of fiction can be used at all and to what extent. That is because the division between fiction and non fiction is far from absolute.

The most absurd aspect of so many computer sites is verification by clicking that one is 'human' as opposed to artificial. Presumably, it is meant to show that a human has looked at it but I am sure that devices could find ways of doing this automatically.

The whole of this concept of what it means to be 'human' and going beyond is the likely opposite of Nietzsche's idea of the 'superhuman'. That is becaus his whole understanding was based on the evolution of consciousness, especially in 'Thus Spake Zarathrustra'. It is about going beyond the robotic functioning of the mass to the a unique way of seeing.

In many respects, the use of artificial intelligence is about reduction to the robotic. There is also the likelihood of artificial intelligence acquiring flaws and viruses and with potential problems of errors. If the artificial are relied on it could result in devastating consequences, such as in military operations and transport networks . I am wondering if use of artificial intelligence was a factor in either of the 2 recent plane crashes in America, as the full details of these critical incidents are still being investigated.

The artificial is likely subject to intentional manipulation and breakdowns. Unlike humans, it won't be able to reflect on this. It may flag up faults but it won't cry out in pain or go out of it's way to protest about its suffering. The most it may do is go into shutdown mode and if people are relying on this results in chaos, such as in banks and hospitals.

It does seem like science fiction to think of humans worshipping the AI or AI worshipping humans. It would seem ancient forms of sun worship and fertility rites of paganism. The more grim possibility of 'worship' may be allegiances in the forms of being obliged to connections through digital ID and biometrics, which is already happening in some ways. It could be done from birth to death with access to all aspects of social life and survival being dependent on such allegiance and subservience to the global government of AI eventually.

I wonder if there would be rebellion in the form of utopian anarchist communities as alternatives. Or, would such rebels face punishment as the new 'Witches', in a similar way to those perceived as heretics in Christendom.

Of course, I am imagining the worst extremes possible, not counting apocalyptic destruction through military AI interventions. It is hard to know what will happen in reality, because, the role of AI is partial but still in fairly early stages. Some see it with fear, including some public figures, such as Robbie Williams. Others embrace the possibilities thinking it will lead to significant changes to the quality of life for human beings. Like with the issue of climate change the field of philosophy can be significant in disentangling realistic fear and blind faith about its potential.

If AI surveils the world throughout it will become like 'God' itself as the judge, especially if it gives prescriptive commands. Of course, it is unclear how far this would go, especially in relation to the fate of human beings itself. James Lovelock, in his final writings spoke of the possiblity of a race of artificial intelligent beings and some remaining human beings overseeing the natural world.

When you question how the AI would see human beings and revere them I wonder if it would be the other way round. Who would be servant and master? Would it be a matter of humans 'worshipping' the artificial intelligent beings as the superior 'overlords'? Some may see this question as ridiculous, but I do think it is one that needs looking at, especially if AI is being used to determine welfare and needs of humans and other aspects of nature.

Yes, it is unlikely that AI can be avoided, especially in the world of work. To not use it all would mean not being able to participate fully in so much of life. The trouble may be that it is being used so much for profit and to do this without questioning may be like the problem of climate change and burying oneself in the sand and pretending that the tide is far away. It also comes with a possible form of authoritarian surveillance which is not being explored fully or questioned by so many people. It's dark potential may go unnoticed as it is being championed in the glamour of less paper and efficiency. It is open to hacking and abuse of power.

Basically, I keep an open mind about Omega point theory. I am aware that it may be pseudoscience. I read Teilhard de chardin's writing briefly when I was at school and would like to come to it again in the light of reading since then. Understanding of the nature of the physics behind the philosophical arguments is an area which I find difficult because I don't have a sufficient background in physics. There is probably a need for dialogue within philosophy and physicists in relation to simulation. You have a background in neuroscience and I only started reading around this area since joining this forum.

So much is unknown about what is possible. I have looked at your links and discussions in threads. There is a lot to read and think about, especially in relation to issues of brain replacement. I see the whole area of simulation, artificial intelligence and consciousness as one of the most important challenging areas of the present time. That is because we are at a critical juncture and understanding such issue is of critical nature to thinking about the future.

What I am concerned about is that so much development is happening so fast. Of course it is an adventure of discovery but slow thinking and caution is needed. That is because so many mistakes have been made in history and errors in cyberspace may have catastrophic consequences.

The transference of a human brain onto a system does raise the question of whether such immortality would be desirable. I find the idea of my ego consciousness as having to exist for eternity as rather daunting. It is hard enough to have to live this life without having to live forever.

Of course, it does raise the issue of what aspect of oneself would continue to exist as a form of consciousness. A resurrection involves a body as the central aspect. The Jehovah Witnesses are physicalists as they believe that the body dies and is reanimated by a resurrection at the end of the world.

In contrast, those who believe in reincarnation see there being some principle of consciousness in a continuity of other lives. I like the idea of reincarnation because it raises the possibility of living other lives and experiences. As an option reincarnation, as a simulation of new bodies and further selves, appeals to me. Some would argue that such rebirth is not the continuity of the person, especially as the person doesn't remember the former self. However, it does come down to what is essential to a person and whether it is merely the existence of a conscious ego.

The question as to whether an artificially simulated form of being would have a sense of ego seems central. Personal identity is bound up with the sense of personhood but whether it is central to consciousness itself is debatable. Is reflective consciousness dependent on this existence of ego, which may not be exactly the same as 'I'. The 'I' may be a form of reference but the structure of ego as a form of personality, although not identical to persona. The persona is the outer aspect whereas ego is about the sense of the core of personal identity.

The whole nature of what constitutes personhood is important for those who wish to simulate consciousness. That is if the aim is to create anything beyond something which is a mere search engine or automated system of information. Would it be possible to create Spinoza's form of substance itself in a system as opposed to in nature?

It is a couple of years since I read Tipler's book. He draws upon Teilhard de chardin's idea of the Omega point to argue for the principle of God and the resurrection of the body. Strangely, he doesn't believe in God or life after death but sees it as a potential argument. He concludes it is unlikely to be true in reality.


The potential arguments which he sees for resurrection is one in which computers could be used to create bodies of all those who ever lived. Alternatively, he thinks that it could a resurrection of the dead could be possible if computers were a model of God. We have the idea of God as anthropomorphic and he is seeing the possibility of a computermorphic conception of 'God'.

Part of the problem of not knowing the minds of artificial intelligence means not knowing their potential effects. Only today, I read a news item of wariness of AI after a Chinese one may have caused trillions of pounds of loss, mainly to Western nations. I only read a brief newspaper article and it is hard to know the full details from what I read.

However, too much reliance on the intelligence of an unknown force may be catastrophic. It may also be a potential source of manipulation for political. Also, I read a brief headline on my phone that the UK may have to rethink plans to introduce many means of AI government. That is because there are so many potential mistakes relying on machines.

The artificial intelligence may be detached but the question is whether detachment helps or hinders understanding. It could probably go either way. The beings of sentience may be lead astray by too much emotion and the detached could be unable to relate to the needs of the sentient beings.

The possibility of creation of consciousness remains speculative in the same way in way as virtual afterlife does. Frank J Tipler explored this in 'The Physics of Immortality'. He looked at the simulation of resurrected bodies by computers.

Some families have created virtual simulations of deceased family members but these are only images. They are not the actual people. It is like suggesting that when one hears John Lennon singing it is really him, even if his voice could be used to record other songs. Artificial simulation is only replica unless the lifeforce is recreated.

The question of zombies is about diminished consciousness and it's the very opposite to the evolution of consciousness. This is a philosophical muddle and it may be luring leaders and creators of AI astray almost like a symbolic apocalyptic beast.

Based on what I have written in the post above to @180 Proof, I generally see artificial intelligence as problematic as being without reflective self. On the other hand, it is possible that the 'I' consciousness is not entirely reducible to the physical alone. The ancients spoke of the 'I am' consciousness as a life force or consciousness itself.

It is the debate as to whether the absence of self as in humans is dependent on human limitations in thinking about consciousness. I think that was the question which Philip Ball was raising in 'Other Minds'. This is a tricky issue.

I find the perspective of Neil and Anil Seth to be interesting because, in spite of my concerns about the increasing use of AI, I do wonder if it could be a new form in the evolution of consciousness. It is possible that there have been and will be other forms of consciousness than the ones conceived and perceived of in humans and sentient beings.

At times I have wondered if there were beings at the beginning of time, such as the pagan gods and fallen angels. The gods of the ancients are mythological in the sense of being possibly disembodied or connected to the planets. In that sense, the emergence of a race of AI could be a return to such a state represented by the idea of a virtual state of being. It is questionable but it is a possiblity.

Artificial intelligence does have memory, so it is likely that this could be used as a basis for creativity. The central aspects of consciousness may be harder to create. I would imagine simulated dream states as showing up as fragmented images and words. It would be rather surreal.

I did see a session of AI seance advertised. It would probably involve attempts to conjure up disembodied spirits or appear to do so.

As far as AI goes, it would be good to question it about its self and identity. I was rather tempted to try this on a phone call which was artificial intelligence. As it was, it struggled with some of the questions which I was asking and 'the lady' kept saying, 'I did not quite catch that question.' It felt so obvious that the person was automated and had no reflective ability whatsoever. But, I did get the call back which she said I would get so it was efficient as often real people say that a call will come and it doesn't happen.

When it comes down to knowing what it is like to be anything other than human, it comes down to imaginary speculations. As far as the car is concerned, many people almost treat them like people. This is based on fantasy and conceptions of imaginary minds.

I always imagined my teddy bears as having minds, because I grew up with a mother who acted in plays. She taught me to play and fantasise and see my toys as characters. On some occasions,I think that people misinterpreted my understanding thinking that I believed that my bears had minds and thoughts. These people may have thought that I was psychotic and when I tried to explain the imaginary minds I gave to bears were fantasy they often seemed confused and perplexed.

Human beings sometimes realising fantasy projection and imaginary minds. The concept of imaginary minds is so different from that of possible minds because the possible ones may exist or exist at some point. Creating a mind for a car or teddy bear is not possible unless they could be given a lifeforce independently of human projection.

I am sure that there are objective means of demonstrating sentience. Cell division and growth are aspects of this. Objects don't grow of there own accord and don't have DNA. The energy field of sentient beings is also likely to be different, although artificial intelligence and computers do have energy fields as well.

The creation of a nervous system may be possible and even the development of artificial eyes. However, the actual development of sensory perception is likely to be a lot harder to achieve, as an aspect of qualia which may not be reduced to bodily processes completely.

I haven't read the 2 books which you mention but do read on the topic of self in psychology. I am particularly interested in psychoanalysis and the ideas of Jung, which involves the idea of the subconscious and Jung's idea of the collective unconscious.

The concept of the collective unconscious is significan in relation to the self and artificial nature because it involves an intersubjective link with other minds. Jung has some ambiguity over whether this is a process in nature or something more. If it is seen as something more, or supernatural, it would be possible to see artificial intelligence as having a part in this, because a machine could have a spirit. Nevertheless, there may be some problem as seeing spirit as separate from nature. It would make computers seem like divine beings or gods.

Aside from this, one book which I read recently was Philip Ball's 'The Book of Minds: Understanding Ourselves and Other Beings, from Animals to Aliens (2022). In particular, it looks at how humans infer the existence of other minds. His central argument is that we need to move on from considering the human mind as a standard against all others should be judged. I am not sure that I agree entirely but I can see that we base so much on anthrocentric assumptions. The book is particularly useful as it looks at the literature, including the ideas of Damasio and Nagel's 'What it is Like to be a Bat'. Humans haven't the ability to know what it feels like to be other than human.

Having read the post which you linked me to, I am not sure that the car being programmed to self-care gives it embodiment. My phone beeps when it's battery is low but that doesn't mean that it has a mind or self in any meaningful way. A car doesn't have experiences in the sense of pleasure or suffering. It won't enjoy riding down the street or feel distress when low on fuel. It may become dysfunctional of course, such as by adverse temperature extremes.

A car which could reproduce would be something indeed. I wonder if it would have sex with other cars to do this and whether there would be male and female cars, even gay cars. If they had a sense of sexual attraction it may be the sign that they had achieved embodiment.

I am unsure of what self reference entails because I am not convinced that it comes down to knowing one's name. Identity involves so much more of lived experience and goes beyond the persona itself. Some of it comes down to processing and in some ways a computer may be able to do that. I wonder if artificial intelligence would have dream sleep which is essential to subconscious processing, and what such dreams would entail. As the Philip K Dick novel title asks, ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'

A sense of self and self awareness involves so much about the fantasy aspects of identity. We don't just assimilate facts about oneself but the meaning of facts. Self is not just about raw data but hopes, aspirations and intentions.

You query what makes organic sentient? Presumably, you, as a human being, are sentient. This means that you have the experience of an organic body, with features such as hunger, thirst and pain. Obviously, these are limitations, but they involve experience, in the form of embodiment. However, the experience of embodiment which leads to understanding of suffering and needs. As non sentient beings do not have needs, including the whole range from the physical, social and self actualization of Maslow's hierarchy of needs they lack any understanding of other minds.

The way in which mobile phones and devices can be identified makes them a reflection of the self of users as opposed to an independent self. I have a precarious love/hate relationship with my phone and lost it once and cracked its screen a month ago. Sometimes, it feels as if it has a force of it's own which makes me wonder about panpsychism and consciousness. However, it is likely that what happens in my relationship with involves projection. At the time when my phone cracked I was feeling chaotic and saw its break as symbolic of my broken self.

Saying that, I think that the solid structure of self is just as questionable as mind. I draw upon the Buddhist idea of 'no self'. That is the self, even though it is has ego identity, is not a permanent structure, despite narrative continuity. But the nature of identity is dependent on a sense of 'I', which may be traced back to Descartes. There is the idea of I as self-reference, which artificial intelligence may be able to achieve, but probably not as the seat of consciousness, once referred to as 'soul'.

When you say that we should give artificial intelligence bodies like because we are afraid of them taking over there would be so much confusion over who is a real person and who is a bot.

Also, creating a body passable as a human would have to involve sentience which is complicated.It may be possible to create partial sentience by means of organic parts but this may end up as a weak human being, like in cloning. The other possibility which is more likely is digital implants to make human beings as part bots, which may be the scary idea, with the science fiction notion of zombies.

It becomes like creating a new race of beings if they are similar in outward form to people. It may end up being similar to Hitler's idea of a 'master race.' Or, if such beings were denied access to certain elements of cultural life they may become like a slave race.

One aspect of the difference between artificial intelligence and a human being is that it is unlikely that they will ever be constructed with a sense of personal identity. They may be given a name and a sense of being some kind of entity. However, identity is also about the narrative stories which we construct about one's life. It would be quite something if artificial intelligence could ever be developed in such a way as it would mean that consciousness as we know it had been created beyond the human mind.

The idea of intelligence as an 'arbitrary cluster of abilities' demonstrates the way in which it is anything but value free. In particular, with IQ tests, so many cultural variables come into play. While some are regarded as having high IQ it is dependent on what exactly is being measured. There is no one set of abilities as each human being is unique.

In the context of artificial Intelligence development, there is danger of AI becoming a determinant of how intelligence is decided and judged. Machines may become the yardstick of how the concept of intelligence is viewed and assessed.

The question of what is 'mind' is itself a major critical philosophy question, especially how it arises from the body. Some, following Descartes, saw it as a 'ghost in the machine', or entity. Many others argued that it was a product of the body, or interconnected. Alternatively, it could be seen as a field, especially in relation to the physical, which is where it gets complicated in considering artificial intelligence.

Generally, the idea of mind indicates an inner reflective consciousness. But, this was challenged by Daniel Dennett's idea of 'consciousness as an illusion'. So, those who adhere to that perspective would not see the nature of artificial intelligence as very different from humans intelligence. So, the understanding of intelligence is bound up with the perspective on consciousness. it is possible to see consciousness and intelligence as an evolutionary process, but a lot comes down to how reflective awareness is seen in the process.

I realise that the concept of intelligence doesn't imply morality and that it is not positive or negative. In particular, the measurement of IQ is independent of this. Where it gets complicated though is with the overlap between rationality in judgment. If left to itself intelligence and thought is, to borrow Nietzsche's term, 'beyond good and evil' and, in relation to this, the understanding of good and evil are human constructions.

Human beings have committed atrocities in the name of the moral, so it is not as if the artificial has an absolute model to live up to. In a sense, it is possible that the artificial may come up with better solutions sometimes. But, it is a critical area, because it is dependent on how they have been programmed. So, it involves the nature of values which have been programmed into them. The humans involved in the design and interpretation of this need to be involved in an analytical way because artificial intelligence doesn't have the guidance of a conscience, even if conscience itself is limited by its rational ability.

Your post is helpful in showing someone who is extremely experienced in using artificial intelligence. I have looked at some of your threads and I come from the opposite angle of being cautious of it. The way you have spoken of 'quasi-empathy' is what worries me. It seems like it is set up with the user's needs in mind but with certain restrictions. It is a bit like the friendliness of customer services.

It is possible that I am being negative, but the problem which I see is that it is all about superficial empathy, although I realise that it there is a lot of analysis. There is an absence of conscious agency and reflectivity. This is okay if the humans using it are able to do the interpretation and reflection. The question is to what extent will be this happen unless there is a wider understanding of the nature of artificial intelligence and development of critical self awareness.

As artificial intelligence is developing at such galloping speed there is a danger that many using it will not have the ability to use it critically. If this is the case, it will be easy for leaders and those in power to programme the artificial intelligence in such a way as to control people as happened with religion previously.

Yes, I may have strayed from the points you make in this thread and you are right to refer to what I said in another one about the implications of artificial intelligence in the future. The problem as far as I see is that there is so much mystique surrounding its use. This has been in conjunction with the ideas about nanotechnology and forms of transhumanist philosophies.

So much of what was written about previously as imaginative speculation is now being applied, and its limitations. In thinking about its use, a lot depends on how the idea is being promoted culturally. Only yesterday, I met someone who said he thought he heard voices coming from his computer, and this may be artificial intelligence. The idea is on a pedestal as being superior to human intelligence.

You speak of the way in which using ChatGPT does not have emotional attachments as being positive. This is open to question, as to how much objectivity and detachment is useful. Emotions can get in the way as being about one's own needs and the ego. On the other hand, emotional attachments are the basis of being human and connections with others. Detachment may lead to absence of any compassion. This may lead to brutal lack of concern for other people and lifeforms.

Your perspective on intelligence in the post above is important, especially in relation to wisdom. The understanding of intelligence which has developed in the twentieth first century to one focusing so much on its outer aspects and mechanics, especially neurons and an underlying perspective of materialism.

This may have lead to knowledge and understanding being reduced to information. Such a perspective is the context in which the whole historical idea of artificial intelligence has emerged. The inner aspects of consciousness, especially wisdom, may become seen as redundant. It is possible to use artificial intelligence as a tool but the danger may be that its glamour will influence a superficial understanding of what constitutes intelligence itself.

One issue of the human-machine interface is that experimentation would raise ethical questions. Some experiments have been made in crossover forms with animals which may be dubious too. The area of experimental research may be in terms of those who have medical conditions, such as brain injuries. I know someone who had a metal plate in her brain after an accident, but she seemed far from robotic.

As for the actual possibilities, it is likely that a form of being which is both human and artificially enhanced by technology is not going to happen in the way the transhumanists imagine. Of course, it is hard to know what the limitations are because previous experiments, such as sex change transitions would have been once thought to be possible. But, males are females are similar whereas machines and humans are completely different forms.

The biggest problem is the creation of consciousness itself, which may defy the building of a brain and nervous system, as well as body parts. Without this, the humans fabricated artificially are likely to be like Madam Tussard models with mechanical voices and movements, even simulated thought. Interior consciousness is likely to be lacking, or substance. It comes down to the creation of nature itself and a probable inability to create the spark of life inherent in nature and consciousness.

The reliance on AI descriptions can be problematic. While it may be seen as efficient it can be time consuming.I find that AI job websites generate spam of jobs which in reality I don't have the requirements for.

Just collecting a parcel which was delivered to me while out from the post office, which used to be easy became so problematic. I nearly gave up but this would have upset the person who sent it.

Also, as there are problems for basic tasks. This its what makes it questionable when aspects of economic and political life are being thrown more and more into the hands of AI. It may be shown after great errors that AI is not as intelligent as human beings, as it is too robotic and concrete.

The way in which AI draws upon statistics is significant, making it useful but questionable in dealing with particulars and specifics. For those who rely on it too much, there is a danger of it being about assuming the norm, without considering irregularities and 'black swans' of experience.

I haven't used ChatGPT as I haven't found the idea as particularly exciting, but I will probably try to at some point. It is probably equivalent to LSD experimenting culturally. Of course, my comparison does make it seem like an adventure into multidimensionality, or information as being the fabric of the collective unconscious. This may be where it gets complicated as systems don't have to be conscious necessarily, but do have some independent existence beyond human minds.

You are correct to say that it is not that the idea of artificial intelligence doesn't really reach 'intelligence' or consciousness. The problem may that the idea has become mystified in an unhelpful way. The use of the word 'intelligence' doesn't help. Also, it may be revered as if it is 'magic', like a new mythology of gods.

In trying to understand it the definition which I find most helpful is by Daughtery and Wilson,'Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI', (2018):
'systems that extend human capability by sensing, comprehending, acting and learning.'
This makes them appear less as forms in their own right. The problem may be that the idea has a connection with the philosophy of transhumanism, with all its science fiction like possibilities.

Thanks for your reply and I am glad that you were the first to reply because one situation which lead me into a 'black hole' of depression was when I realised that some people in recent creative writing activities thread had used AI as an aid. It was clear that they had used it as a tool in the true spirit of the creative process, which matters. Of course, I realise as @Jamal said in a reply to me, during the activity, that technology has always been used by writers. Nevertheless, the use of AI in the arts is one that bothers me because it may become too central and as an expectation.

With your point about it being used for profit that is my concern about its politics. In England it appears that cuts in so many aspects of human welfare are being made ij order to fund advances in AI. Many people are already struggling with poverty already, especially as unemployment is increasing as humans are being replaced by machines. Then, it seems as if those who are out of work are to be expected to live on the lowest possible income in order for AI to be developed in an outstanding way. This is also backed up by the argument that it is an incentive to make everybody work, but that is when so many humans are being made redundant by AI.

It would be good to think that it would be about efficiency but my own experience of AI, such as telephone lines, have been so unhelpful. It seems to be looking at any inconsistencies in information as a basis for preventing basic tasks. This may be seen as part of risk assessment, such as fraud, but it reduces life to data and the reality is that many people's lives can't be reduced that simply. That is why I query whether it goes deep enough.

As for AI, sentience and philosophy, the issue is that without sentience AI does not have life experiences. As it is, it doesn't have parents, self-image and sexuality. It does not have reflective consciousness, thereby, it is not able to attain wisdom.

The issue of how far the West has gone with reason is complicated because it is so variable. In some ways, people have development of reason which is only superficial, almost as pseudo-reason. The ability to reason about the emotions is also important as reason doesn't have to lead back to religion. Psychology may have stepped in where religion left off, especially in the idea of emotional intelligence, or Eric Berne's idea of 'Games People Play'. Social psychology involves the dramas of the social world.

The understanding of myth which is often adopted in colloquial disciplines is of myth as being about false assumptions. This is bound up with myth being seen as being about the supernatural. That is ignoring the way in which myth operates in every aspect of social and political lives . Thinkers about this may be neglected, not simply as a development of reason but as a split between reason and emotion. Even thinking about religion may involve this split, which may be why some people embrace it and others reject it entirely.

I definitely think that the way philosophy is taught is a factor in why people are put off by it. That is because it can be made so obscure and remote from life to be made uninteresting.

I have come across a fair amount of people who began philosophy courses, often not completing them, because they just found that they could not relate to it. Some seem to love and some seem to hate it. I have always been drawn to it, discovering the philosophy section in the library when I was about 12 or 13. There may be some underlying disposition to examining assumptions and ideas, although, of course, within the 'minority' who like it people come from such different angles.

Divinity does not have to be about a transcendent anthromorphic 'God'. There is the idea of divinity within as expressed by Walt Whitman. The poets often understood divinity as a source of inspiration. I am sure that William Blake saw it that way.