Brighton Cafe Scientifique – The Ethics of Artificial Consciousness
8pm Tuesday 20th January 2004
Steve Torrance, Professor of Cognitive Science, Middlesex University, and
Visiting Research Fellow in Cognitive Science, University of Sussex
Many people are already claiming that they have developed programs, robots,
etc, which display not just artificial intelligence (AI) but artificial
consciousness (AC). The emergence of artificial phenomenal consciousness
that which refers to the subjective feel of 'what it is like' to have a
headache or indigestion, or a pang of remorse or sexual longing – may not
happen for centuries, if ever. However, many current AC researchers claim
that there's no reason why machines that are artificially conscious in the
fullest sense should not be with us in the near future.
This has important ethical implications. To take a fictional, but well-
known example, does Star Trek's Commander Data merely behave AS IF he had
phenomenal consciousness, or does he REALLY HAVE phenomenal consciousness?
Imagine a world where Data-like creatures had proliferated rather as cars
or PCs have today. If such creatures genuinely had pains, pleasures, etc
then would it be a monstrous injustice to deprive them of the resources we
humans demand to administer to our own pleasures and pains?
In raising this intriguing question, Steve Torrance, Professor of Cognitive
Science at Middlesex University, and Visiting Research Fellow in Cognitive
Science at the University of Sussex asks if society should be asking
searching questions about such research activity, and whether unrestrained
AC research might be as ethically suspect as unrestrained research on
cloning or genetically engineered 'designer' babies.
Got a burning question to ask? Got a topic you want to suggest? Get along
to Café Scientifique – science for the sociable.
8pm
Sumo
Middle Street
Brighton
Please note that Sumo does not serve food, but there are several pubs on
Middle Street that do.
Forthcoming events
17th February: Energy from Biomass
In the light of government commitments made at Kyoto to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, as well as the need long term to replace finite supplies of
fossil fuels, energy from biomass probably offers the greatest potential
from currently known renewable sources. Join Mike Tribe of the University
of Sussex to hear why the 21st century is likely to be the era
of 'carbohydrate' and 'hydrogen' economies and why, in his opinion, the UK
Government has done too little too late to promote and invest in bioenergy.
With contribitions from the Magpie Recycling Co-operative.
If you have any suggestions for future topics or require further
information please contact:
Amanda Tyndall, South of England Development Officer, Café Scientifique:
[log in to unmask]; T/F: 01273 697 278; M: 07903 933 515
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