Can a robot have a soul? Consciousness?

Diamond72 · Mar 4, 2023

Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

Bob Crowley · Mar 4, 2023

It's the same question as to whether a computer can have a soul or consciousness, since a robot is a mechanical contrivance which is controlled by a computer.

I think the time will come when AI will be so advanced it will appear to have a soul, or what might be called an ethical outlook, but it will be the result of programming. I don't think computers or robots will ever believe that "I am".

I think consciousness, the soul and conscience are all spiritual.

That said, I believe the time will come when we will learn how to teleport. But I also think there'll be a lengthy hiatus between learning how to "teleport" material items and when we "teleport" living things, since I accept all living things have a soul of some sort, which will not behave as the quantum world behaves.

Eventually I think we'll get around that as well, but the original will always be destroyed. I suspect we won't be doing "Beam me up, Scotties" on a regular basis either. I having a sinking suspicion there will be so much error involved in the process that anyone who is teleported will spend months getting their organs rebuilt.

As it is, even quantum computers have a large error factor, and all they're dealing with is data.

The Problem with Quantum Computers

It’s called decoherence—but while a breakthrough solution seems years away, there are ways of getting around it

blogs.scientificamerican.com

Diamond72 · Mar 4, 2023

Bob Crowley said:
That said, I believe the time will come when we will learn how to teleport.

I can teleport now. I have been to the center of the universe and I have been to Heaven at least three times. But I can not do as Jesus did where He could appear in a room with locked doors and walk on water a great distances. Maybe He was able to teleport Himself. But his whole body was there because doubting Thomas wanted to examine Him to see if He was real. Even He would eat fish to show the disciples He was real. He built them a fire.

sandman · Mar 4, 2023

Diamond7 said:
Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

Certainly it can be designed to have and acquire characteristics of a person …..but since true soul life is in the blood (biblically) ….. Ima gunna say no to soul ….and consciousness (which is integrated in soul life)

Gregory Thompson · Mar 4, 2023

Diamond7 said:
Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

You may benefit from watching the cg/anime series ghost in the shell.

ViaCrucis · Mar 4, 2023

Diamond7 said:
Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

A lot of this has to do with what we even mean by "soul". If we mean "conscious life", or as you put it consciousness; then the answer to the question is we don't know.

Until we encounter (or if we ever encounter) truly artificial life, truly artificial consciousness--a true artificially made mind--then such questions really are just completely unknowable.

I will say that I am not philosophically opposed to the possibility of true artificial life, or machine sapience. That is, if it happened it wouldn't destroy my entire worldview. But I do believe it's a terrible idea to try and do that.

The creation of a true machine or artificial intelligence would be an advancement in technology that would make the discovery of how to utilize the atom pale in comparison. The possible dangers are many-fold worse than what we've done in the harnessing of the destructive power of the atom. It's a threshold I do not think we should ever cross. Not because of the philosophical implications; but practical ones. That's a Pandora's Box we need to keep closed.

-CryptoLutheran

timothyu · Mar 4, 2023

Could not AI develop it's own idea of a soul based on its own idea of consciousness, just as we once did? If our consciousness is not God's and we only think based on our understanding/perception of the universe around us, why could not AI end up doing the same based on their perceptions, a universe as foreign to ours as ours is to Heaven..

SavedByGrace3 · Mar 4, 2023

Diamond7 said:
Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

Nope. Before I retired I was a computer programmer, analyst, and systems engineer. I designed program, systems, and even played around designing a computer CPU. I also attended electronics school in the USAF and loaded top secret launch and target codes into the onboard computer of minuteman missiles. A computer, regardless of how sophisticated, does not have a soul. It is nothing but data being sifted through algorithms stored in electronic circuits. Nothing will come out of it that was not programed or stored in it. Data on STNG is a good example. It has no more soul or intelligence than a transistor radio. I love this stuff and both to work with and play. But it will never be anything more than elaborate electronics and software.

timothyu · Mar 4, 2023

SavedByGrace3 said:
. But it will never be anything more than elaborate electronics and software.

I understand your thinking but what is to stop anyone from designing AI to think for or program itself as is being done now, previously in photography, and now using universally available data for it to formulate theories and conclusions. Gone are the days where we used programmed programs to use as tools, where now the tool does the work itself without our input, be it creative or otherwise.

SavedByGrace3 · Mar 4, 2023

timothyu said:
I understand your thinking but what is to stop anyone from designing AI to think for or program itself as is being done now, previously in photography, and now using universally available data for it to formulate theories and conclusions. Gone are the days where we used programmed programs to use as tools, where now the tool does the work itself without our input, be it creative or otherwise.

Thanks for the response.

Blade · Mar 4, 2023

The answer no offense if we know the word only God can create. Satan cannot and we can not create a soul, spirit. As we all know man + woman equals life yet that life is created by God. It is nothing what so ever like the movies.

Diamond72 · Mar 4, 2023

SavedByGrace3 said:
But it will never be anything more than elaborate electronics and software.

They make it look real. The real problem is the people behind AI. They already can do a lot of harm and as the computer becomes more advanced they will be able to do more harm. People like Musk and Gates are doing all they can to cover for themselves when that happens.

timothyu · Mar 4, 2023

Blade said:
Satan cannot and we can not create a soul, spirit

Self awareness was the forbidden fruit that we are now passing along to our creations, even though many will say to them, don't eat of it.

timothyu · Mar 4, 2023

Diamond7 said:
People like Musk and Gates are doing all they can to cover for themselves when that happens.

Musk at least is warning we need a global consensus as to how far this should go.

eleos1954 · Mar 5, 2023

Diamond7 said:
Of course, science does not believe in a soul, so this has more to do with consciousness.

It is worth noting that the idea of a person putting a part of their soul into a machine or robot is largely a fictional concept that is often portrayed in popular culture. While it is theoretically possible to create a program or device that can simulate aspects of human consciousness or behavior, this would not necessarily involve the transfer of a person's soul or consciousness into the machine.

This includes robots, chatbots and AI in general.

They are man-made machines ... incapable of true consciousness

RileyG · Mar 5, 2023

Robots are not made in the image and likeness of God. The answer is no.

timothyu · Mar 5, 2023

eleos1954 said:
They are man-made machines ... incapable of true consciousness

Is that the machines opinion or yours.
We seemed to think we are something God said we should not be.

timothyu · Mar 5, 2023

RileyG said:
Robots are not made in the image and likeness of God. The answer is no.

They are made in the image of us and we are their god.

eleos1954 · Mar 5, 2023

timothyu said:
Is that the machines opinion or yours.
We seemed to think we are something God said we should not be.

The human brain has thoughts ...... we then have the ability to discern those thoughts .... ponder them .... sometimes (hopefully often with the help of the Holy Spirit, will help us change our thoughts) humans are "free thinkers" ...... robots are programed ..... they may be programmed to "process" a variety of information randomly ..... but what they process has been given to them through algorithms .... the process designed by men.

timothyu · Mar 5, 2023

eleos1954 said:
the process designed by men.

As we were designed by God.

Can a robot have a soul? Consciousness?

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