Re:How does consciousness even make sense?
by algoholix on Tuesday November 10, 2020 @06:03AM
(#25044622)
> Anything that can perceive itself and can perceive itself perceiving will exhibit all the hallmarks of what we call consciousness. It's a recognizable behavior pattern with a name.
In my opinion this just delays the question. The question now becomes whether machines can perceive themselves (or really anything at all) or whether they can just mechanically and symbolically represent the perception of objects, including themselves. If the answer is yes, then that implies that any sufficiently large representation of computation has a consciousness and therefore that there is nothing special about it. If it is no, then where's the relevant difference to a human brain?
Re:How does consciousness even make sense?
by ncmncm on Tuesday November 10, 2020 @11:35AM
(#25047851)
You have made no distinction between "perceive themselves" and "mechanically and symbolically represent the perception of objects". That is the same thing, less the woo. And, events, including their own actions, which also need to be perceived.
I have no reason to think that you are not mechanically and symbolically representing the perception of objects and events. A pattern of activation of neurons is a symbol.
I have subjective experience, including the subjective experience of observing my own behavior. So do you. The redness of a tomato has to look like something, and furthermore has had to evolve to catch the attention of animals like yourself that would be nourished by it. Meanwhile, animals like yourself have needed to evolve to find red things appealing. No mysteries there.
Anything that can perceive itself and can perceive itself perceiving will exhibit all the hallmarks of what we call consciousness. It's a recognizable behavior pattern with a name. Imagining there is more to it than that is just tying yourself in knots to no purpose.