Philosophers argue consciousness could exist in alien or machine minds, not just Earth biology
By
Joseph Shavit, Joshua Shavit
Summary
Philosophers Eric Schwitzgebel (UC Riverside) and Jeremy Pober (University of Lisbon) argue in a new working paper that conscious experience likely does not depend solely on Earth-style biology. They contend that alien minds or future machines could potentially possess consciousness, though they stop short of claiming that all complex systems or current AI are conscious. The paper challenges the assumption that consciousness requires a biological body like ours, suggesting this view may be culturally biased rather than philosophically grounded.
Source
bskyPhilosophers argue consciousness could exist in alien or machine minds, not just Earth biologythebrighterside.newsKey quotes
· 3 pulledA mind wrapped in skin and bone can feel like the obvious model for consciousness. But that assumption may say more about where you live than about what consciousness really requires.
Their claim is not that every complicated system is conscious, or that today's artificial intelligence has crossed that line. It is narrower and, in some ways, more unsettling.
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