preview

Consciousness Arguments Against Turing's Test

Decent Essays

The consciousness argument is the strongest objection against the Turing’s test. Machines act by interpreting symbols based on given rules. If they follow rules and interprets symbols, then the programmers influence their actions, not their own thoughts and feelings. Since their own thoughts and feelings do not influence their actions, they are not truly aware of how these actions can affect their emotions and the surroundings. If machines are not aware of their behaviors, they are not conscious. Without consciousness, machines cannot have minds. Therefore, the Turing’s test is not sufficient to prove that machines can think. Turing doesn’t respond directly to each premises of this argument, instead he responds to its conclusion that machines are not conscious. To begin with, Turing follows the consciousness objection’s line of thought and states that the only possible method to know if a machine can think or not is to literally become that machine. Similarly, the only possible method to know if a person can think or not is to literally be that person. According to Turing, these statements represent the perspective of solipsism, the …show more content…

The machines can now give oral responses instead of written responses, also known as a “viva voce”. Humans conclude that they have conscious through their conversations about feelings. If humans can conclude through that method, then it is possible for machines to do it too (?). If a machine can have intelligent conversation with the judges about its work or creation, then that machine is aware of its action. If a machine is aware of its action, then it is conscious which also means it has a mind. Lastly, Turing believes that the concept of consciousness is not relevant to his question about whether a machine can pass the imitation game. The result of the test is not affected by consciousness

Get Access