Let's talk robots!

jubilationtcornpone said:

Agreed. I'm just saying that the depravity of man is not an important distinction for the purposes of this particular discussion. Whether unregenerate or redeemed, we all have the ability (however limited) to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, obedience and disobedience, and this is what we normally mean by "free will." This ability proves that we are not mere robots, nor can a mere robot ever behave like a human being.

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I would just like to add something to refine your statement. 'We all have the ability (according to concept and experience of the individual) to choose between right and wrong, good and evil...

...and concerning robots...

Why do you believe in the ghost in the machine. A machine cannot have consciousness as we experience it because we are the spirits of Life. Why worship the work of your own hands to believe that you can give a machine a soul?
You have no power over Life. A machine can't eat the bread of Life.

So we are in necessary agreement. A robot can never behave like a human being. It may be that a robot can appear to be human, however, that would merely be a projection of ourselves, through observation, that gives a robot an apparent soul.

jubilationtcornpone said:

Agreed. I'm just saying that the depravity of man is not an important distinction for the purposes of this particular discussion. Whether unregenerate or redeemed, we all have the ability (however limited) to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, obedience and disobedience, and this is what we normally mean by "free will." This ability proves that we are not mere robots, nor can a mere robot ever behave like a human being.

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Sorry Jubilationtcornpone...Whenever I see broad sweeping statements I have to throw out questions like that. It's good to see that folks, at least some, have thought about this. Generalizations cause just as much confusion as absolute statements. I could disagree on some points here but my purpose seems to have been understood.

It may be that a robot can appear to be human, however, that would merely be a projection of ourselves, through observation, that gives a robot an apparent soul.

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I think this may be one of the best statements that I've heard about robots in some time. Robots as a projection of ourselves, that's probably a good way to look at them. They are no more independent entities than a book or a cd or a painting.