Artificial consciousness
Protoscience - the origin of new sciences
Artificial consciousness is a subset of artificial intelligence research, specifically concerned with the goal of producing man-made devices with consciousness. Gerald Edelman's theory of biological consciousness emphasized the dependence of consciousness on memory. If Edelman's theory is correct, then artificial consciousness should be possible if artificial intelligence researchers can replicate in electronic circuits those kinds of memory systems that exist in human brains.
Some philosophers question the possibility of verifying that anyone or anything besides yourself is conscious. It may be possible to use nanotechnology or brain scanning techniques to gain at least partial access to the contents of consciousness in another person or man-made device. This might make it possible to partially share consciousness between two conscious individuals.
[edit] See also
- Wikipedia article on artificial consciousness.
- Wikibook on consciousness
- An attempt to deconstruct philosophical intuitions about consciousness as exemplified in Ned Block's dualistic account of consciousness.
