Consciousness

Question 1

What is meant with the Explanatory Gap?

Answer 1

The Explanatory gap is the question of how physical processes result in subjective or phenomenal experiences. The explanatory gap is a topic of ongoing debate in philosophy of mind, with some philosophers arguing that it may be impossible to bridge the gap, while others propose that it may be possible to do so through a deeper understanding of the nature of reality.

Question 2

Which components make up consciousness according to Dahaene et al. ?

Answer 2

There is C1 consciousness, which is the ability of an agent to have an object of thought, or Global availability of information. This is further explained as a conscious bottleneck in which a single object arises from a collection of nonconscious patterns of attention. This object of thought can be subsequently used to drive the behavior of that agent in way where the short-term needs of an agent are moved aside in order to achieve the goal of this object of thought.

There is also C2 consciousness, which has to do with meta-cognition. Meta cognition means to know about knowing, or to be able to self-reflect. Meta-memory is another component, and so is confidence.

Question 3

What are A priori arguments against consciousness in machines?

Answer 3

Machines by definition cannot have consciousness because they are too simple, lack a soul, are human made are not themselves born out of conscious beings etc. etc.

Question 4

What are A priori arguments FOR consciousness in machines?

Answer 4

Panpsychism: All physical objects have some sort of consciousness already present.

Question 5

What are the limitations of A priora arguments for or against consciousness?

Answer 5

The explanatory gap limits these arguments. We do not know how the phenominal aspects of conscious experience are connected to the material world, we also cannot make any certain inferences about the possibility or impossibility of conscious machines.

Question 6

Instead of attempting to define and measure ‘consciousness’ what else can be done to investigate the possiblity of consciousness in machines?

Answer 6

Devise a criterion which, if satisfied, is sufficient to attribute the possession of phenomenal consciousness in machines.

Question 7

Give two examples of criteria defined to establish artificial consciousness?

Answer 7

An example is the Artificial consciousness test, which is similar to the imitation game but focused on questions that elicit reflection and intuitions about consciousness. The assumption is that only machines with phenomenal states would answer these questions in ways that would “fool” the interrogator into thinking that they actually have it.

Another example is the chip test, in which the brain is replaced piece by piece with silicon chips that replicates the input and output behavior of that which it replaces. Eventually the whole brain should be replaced and the subject should issue no abnormal introspective reports.

Both of these would still not cross the explanatory gap, as we are currently not able to verify another beings experience directly.