well that reminds me of Philip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". In it, one of the most salient question is about human nature: What makes us human? Is there a quality which distinguishes us from a machine?
The answer in the book seems to be compassion. But it remains somewhat unclear as some androids seem to show even more compassion than some humans do...
In one way this has been an age old question, on the other side the rapid technological development forces us to look at it anew. There seems to be some real progress towards AI, and maybe, just maybe it will actually be here one day.
For me personally, the fundamental quality that humans have (although I don't think it is limited to them) is compassion and love. If the android in my bed can really have this quality, then I guess it wouldn't matter. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.
@tobetada hello!! Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check out the novel out right away. Good questions,
We find ourself right in the beginning of a periode in which these questions will be highly necessary to discuss with everyone. The earlier the better.
Right now we can not see compassion in robots, but we are programmed to - so isn't there a possibility of programming this in a machine as well? When humans are programmed to have empathy, love and compassion?
And how about when we manage to program biological things? Will we be able to program and create a fully functioning biological human?
I guess if so, it might take another 50-100 years? I guess.. Or with the technology raising exponentially I actually have no idea when this could happen...!!
Have a wonderful Sunday!! hope to hear from you again, love your reflections :D
If we are just programmed so to speak to have compassion then I think it isn't compassion. It is impossible to prove that there is such a fundamental thing as love (which gives rise to compassion), but subjectively it exists. If the mind is quiet is can feel this quality and it is this quality which I am skeptical of that robots can ever feel it. Sure, it can be programmed, but it's not the same thing on a deeper level.
Of course maybe that doesn't even matter. Maybe people will be okay with robots emulating this quality. But there is something in my heart that tells me that this is fake, and not the real thing.
I totally get you on that, this will be such an interesting thing to follow.. I just hope I'll stay alive in order to see where this journey will take us. I'm one of those hoping to keep staying alive as long as possible.. he he!