Like Tiberius, my view is that consciousness / sentience is an emergent property of material conditions. As nanotechnology advances, it only stands to reason that sentience will inevitably emerge out of tomorrow's "supercomputers." The question is *when* we acknowledge it as sentience. Considering the history of racism and slavery, I reckon that it will appear sooner than we acknowledge it; this has, in fact, been a perennial theme in global science fiction. The transition to giving non-human artificial life full rights will surely be as, or more, traumatic than the end of slavery.
On another note, it might be worth asking which animals already possess sentience, and what rights they should possess. Sorry if this has already possessed, but I'm a bit pressed for time and thought the subject interesting enough for comment.
Z
On another note, it might be worth asking which animals already possess sentience, and what rights they should possess. Sorry if this has already possessed, but I'm a bit pressed for time and thought the subject interesting enough for comment.
Z
I'm always in search for faith-free spaces. Let's make them, enlarge them, and enjoy them!
Bertrand Russell quotes!
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State -- if you haven't joined their Facebook page, do so by all means.
Bertrand Russell quotes!
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State -- if you haven't joined their Facebook page, do so by all means.
