Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Shades of randian free will in here.  The notion that the only real or actual freedom we possess is whether to employ whatever agency we possess.  We are still who we are, it's still going to do what it's going to do.

I'm not so sure this is meaningfully different from the freedom an ai possesses.  What's with all the design and "Company of the Will " nonsense, it doesn't seem to be doing anything, just a dangling assertion.

A kid noticed a beautiful big car and said to his father: Father, please tell me, who made this car.
The father gives him a 'name' (please replace the word 'name' with the brand you prefer  ). But to go on, let us replace it with the world 'BMW'.

The kid: Is BMW a man or a woman.
The father: Neither, it is just a name of a company.
The kid: Where and how does this company live?
The father: Son, a company is not a living being.
The kid: Is it a sort of robot then?
The father: No, it is not a robot. it exists as a group of people working together on making cars as the one you saw.
The kid: Oh, I see. May I conclude that 'BMW' refers to the 'common will' of the people forming this group, company, in making their cars?
The father: Good remark son. Who says that kids don't see things better than adults sometimes!

Sorry, I agree with the kid about what is known also as 'God' as being behind our existence. I guess, this doesn't make me as any known theist or an atheist... right?

So, you see God as a capitalist investor, enabling the production of overpriced goods by underpaid workers aimed at an elite market? You may have a point.

Boru

[KerimF]

A kid noticed a beautiful big car and said to his father: Father, please tell me, who made this car.
The father gives him a 'name' (please replace the word 'name' with the brand you prefer  ). But to go on, let us replace it with the world 'BMW'.

The kid: Is BMW a man or a woman.
The father: Neither, it is just a name of a company.
The kid: Where and how does this company live?
The father: Son, a company is not a living being.
The kid: Is it a sort of robot then?
The father: No, it is not a robot. it exists as a group of people working together on making cars as the one you saw.
The kid: Oh, I see. May I conclude that 'BMW' refers to the 'common will' of the people forming this group, company, in making their cars?
The father: Good remark son. Who says that kids don't see things better than adults sometimes!

Sorry, I agree with the kid about what is known also as 'God' as being behind our existence. I guess, this doesn't make me as any known theist or an atheist... right?

So, you see God as a capitalist investor, enabling the production of overpriced goods by underpaid workers aimed at an elite market? You may have a point.

Boru

Your remark is very true if humans are all created to be like cars... biological robots to serve the world.

[The Grand Nudger]

Right, and after all of that, I'm still not sure that our freedom as you describe it is different than an ais, and the company of the will continues to be a dangling assertion.

[KerimF]

Right, and after all of that, I'm still not sure that our freedom as you describe it is different than an ais, and the company of the will continues to be a dangling assertion.

Sorry I am not sure how I should understand the word ais. Does it refer to AI robots?

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah. Lay aside all of the factually problematic claims.

Let's just assume that people are designed and preprogrammed and all of that, and that the only freedom we may have is in selecting some course of action that isn't in our predefined routines. That doesn't sound like a difference between a human and an ai. That, if it were true, would be a similarity between us.

[KerimF]

Yeah.  Lay aside all of the factually problematic claims.  

Let's just assume that people are designed and preprogrammed and all of that, and that the only freedom we may have is in selecting some course of action that isn't in our predefined routines.  That doesn't sound like a difference between a human and an ai.   That, if it were true, would be a similarity between us.

Please don't tell me that an AI robot could also be programmed to oppose (not update his initial routines to be new ones as in the evolution process) any of his routines (original or updated). But if you like you can anytime give me an example since I can't find one. Thank you.

[Angrboda]

Yeah.  Lay aside all of the factually problematic claims.  

Let's just assume that people are designed and preprogrammed and all of that, and that the only freedom we may have is in selecting some course of action that isn't in our predefined routines.  That doesn't sound like a difference between a human and an ai.   That, if it were true, would be a similarity between us.

Please don't tell me that an AI robot could also be programmed to oppose (not update his initial routines to be new ones as in the evolution process) any of his routines (original or updated). But if you like you can anytime give me an example since I can't find one. Thank you.

Okay, we won't tell you. You seem to prefer ignorance anyway.

[KerimF]

Please don't tell me that an AI robot could also be programmed to oppose (not update his initial routines to be new ones as in the evolution process) any of his routines (original or updated). But if you like you can anytime give me an example since I can't find one. Thank you.

Okay, we won't tell you.  You seem to prefer ignorance anyway.

I am sorry for disturbing your mind's peace ...minds in plural since you didn't say... Okay, I won't tell you.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah.  Lay aside all of the factually problematic claims.  

Let's just assume that people are designed and preprogrammed and all of that, and that the only freedom we may have is in selecting some course of action that isn't in our predefined routines.  That doesn't sound like a difference between a human and an ai.   That, if it were true, would be a similarity between us.

Please don't tell me that an AI robot could also be programmed to oppose (not update his initial routines to be new ones as in the evolution process) any of his routines (original or updated). But if you like you can anytime give me an example since I can't find one. Thank you.

I think you did find an example, immediately, as your paranthetical qualification suggests.  

-but lets run with it.  Yes, it would be relatively simple to program a machine to reject it's programming.  That is..literally, a one step process.  It's still programming, though, isn't it?  Is that what you mean by our human freedom?  That we're programmed to reject our programming, whereas "robots" are not programmed to reject their programming?

[Angrboda]

I can't handle rejection. Just sayin'.