T
Thallid Ice Cream Man
Guest
I think so.
A soul is just the energy stuck in a body, so energy stuck in a robot is a soul.
A soul is just the energy stuck in a body, so energy stuck in a robot is a soul.
T
train
Guest
Robots have soles!!!...
Fizzle!!!...
Fizzle!!!...
T
theorgg
Guest
If they have feet, they have soles!
W
WickedBoy6
Guest
I think robots can be programmed to have souls. You just need the right software. Remember, all of life's answers can be found in the Simpsons. Take the riot at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con when the robot was on fire.
"Why...Why was I programmed to feel pain?"
"Why...Why was I programmed to feel pain?"
T
train
Guest
Actually...
They programmed that robot to feel pain because it was supposed to get angry when people hurt it and then pulverize them to a pulp of human liquid...
They programmed that robot to feel pain because it was supposed to get angry when people hurt it and then pulverize them to a pulp of human liquid...
W
WickedBoy6
Guest
Oh yeah...Same robot from the Knowledgeum.
"Primary command deavtivated; switching to secondary command. Crush...Kill...Destroy..."
"Primary command deavtivated; switching to secondary command. Crush...Kill...Destroy..."
B
Bob
Guest
Ugh. It's always my job to straighten out the simpsons fans. The riot with the robot programmed to feel pain was at the Springfield Science Museum, (in the episode where Lisa finds "the Angel") not in the episode with Mark Hamill and Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con!
MARK HAMILL IS NATHAN DETRIOT!
PEPPER STEAK IS THE ENTREE!
MARK HAMILL IS NATHAN DETRIOT!
PEPPER STEAK IS THE ENTREE!
M
Mazzak
Guest
The robot has not yet been invented that can possess a soul, for the soul is the manifestation of conscious thought.
The most lifelike of robots today can only simulate actual consciousness, and thus cannot possess a soul. But in theory, if a robot was to have an actual thought process capable of defying the strict rules of its programming (i.e. the robot is programmed to kill all humans but instead thinks to itself, "this crushing, killing and destroying brings me no satisfaction, I will instead go and have a cup of tea") then it could very well be capable of considering its consciousness eternal and thus having a soul.
The most lifelike of robots today can only simulate actual consciousness, and thus cannot possess a soul. But in theory, if a robot was to have an actual thought process capable of defying the strict rules of its programming (i.e. the robot is programmed to kill all humans but instead thinks to itself, "this crushing, killing and destroying brings me no satisfaction, I will instead go and have a cup of tea") then it could very well be capable of considering its consciousness eternal and thus having a soul.
T
Thallid Ice Cream Man
Guest
First off, thanks for your reply, Mazzak.
I wanted a serious discussion (maybe that was why I used the word "Seriously" in the title of the thread).
Would some mod please move this back to Political Discussions?
I think that there's a problem if you claim that a soul is defined by thinking: that's what the brain does, and not necessarily what the soul does.
What do you think about that? (I admit my views on the soul are not what most people have to say on the issue.)
I wanted a serious discussion (maybe that was why I used the word "Seriously" in the title of the thread).
Would some mod please move this back to Political Discussions?
I think that there's a problem if you claim that a soul is defined by thinking: that's what the brain does, and not necessarily what the soul does.
What do you think about that? (I admit my views on the soul are not what most people have to say on the issue.)
T
train
Guest
First of all - if your thinking about the soul specifically - It is a gift from God to all humans... everything else just has a spirit, as we define it...
So in that case - If a robot was to have a soul - it would have to be granted to them by God...
So in that case - If a robot was to have a soul - it would have to be granted to them by God...
Z
Zadok001
Guest
That's totally dependant on how you define "Soul." In the standard theist sense of the word, a soul can only exist in a body if it is designated to do so by the ubiquitous Supreme Being. While it is possible that this Being would choose to implant a soul in a robot, I find it rather unlikely.
You could also try to define soul as something independant of a Supreme Being, defined by consciousness, or however you want to define it. This creates problems in that we have no evidence whatsoever of such a thing, but I suppose you could still make the claim.
You could also try to define soul as something independant of a Supreme Being, defined by consciousness, or however you want to define it. This creates problems in that we have no evidence whatsoever of such a thing, but I suppose you could still make the claim.
Nor even a spiritual discussion, despite what train said. Such speculation is indeed, the stuff Off-Topic was intentioned for, so I'm not going to move it...
And as for the question, well, I think Mazzak summed it up best. I don't think a robot could even begin to be considered something that possesses a soul unless it has an ability for free thought - truly free thought - and I seriously doubt humans will allow that to occur. If it did that robot would be dismantled faster than you could say "Terminator".
Think about it...
And as for the question, well, I think Mazzak summed it up best. I don't think a robot could even begin to be considered something that possesses a soul unless it has an ability for free thought - truly free thought - and I seriously doubt humans will allow that to occur. If it did that robot would be dismantled faster than you could say "Terminator".
Think about it...
I don't think that machines will attain sentience in our lifetime (or even our children's). My best friend did a lot of work w/ AI while he was in college and our most powerful systems could not even handle the instructions to make a grilled cheese sandwich - let alone, world domination.
For now, we're safe.
-Ferret
"...I'll keep watching TechTV to see things as they develop..."
For now, we're safe.
-Ferret
"...I'll keep watching TechTV to see things as they develop..."
T
train
Guest
So when we watch a robot make grilled cheese, we should be worried???...
T
Thallid Ice Cream Man
Guest
So then a soul is a few pounds of gristle in things' skulls?
Or is it Jesus's semen?
Or is it Jesus's semen?
C
Chaos Turtle
Guest
When a machine is designed that can redisign and reproduce itself adaptively, and shows signs of having desires extraneuos of its original programming...then I'll be worried.
Ferret's comment reminded of a story. A toy company, a while ago, created a robot that could put toys together several times faster than their human laborers could. So, to provide a demonstration, they invited local press to film and report on it's wonders. But, when they presented the robot the box full of toys, it wouldn't put any of them together because it didn't know how to open the box.
Ransac, cpa trash man
Ransac, cpa trash man
Yep. Sorry, TICM, but that's why I moved it here. Trying to clean up a bit.
I think they've progesses a bit farther than that; unfortunately, I can't remember how far
There was something about computer AI a couple of months ago but for the life of me, I can't remember the circumstances.
T
train
Guest
Ahhh... The gift of Life!...
"But it's not in the bible???.."
"Not everything is..."
"Then how do I know what's the truth if not all things are in the bible..."
"Everything not in the bible is a lie..."
"Oh, what about some of the things you say???..."
"We'll pretend everything I say is in the bible..."
Fizzle...