A.I. and souls.

[mikkel_the_dane]

Because, you know, they're actually alive as opposed to an AI which is just a program. The soul/spirit is what animates our bodies and gives us our consciousness, as I understand it. There's probably other reasons I can think of, too. I don't believe AIs will ever be self-aware, anyway.

Yes, but that we humans think, has a limit. I think you are nothing as an example. Well, I really don't, but that it is because that I think something about you and everything else not based on how I think won't make it a fact, just because I think it.
So that you think we have a soul won't make it a fact. I don't think we have a soul or not. Because I don't know that.
See there is a third option.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Yes, but that we humans think, has a limit. I think you are nothing as an example. Well, I really don't, but that it is because that I think something about you and everything else not based on how I think won't make it a fact, just because I think it.
So that you think we have a soul won't make it a fact. I don't think we have a soul or not. Because I don't know that.
See there is a third option.

Yeah, that's nice.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Yeah, that's nice.

Yeah, that is feeling and not thinking.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Yeah, that is feeling and not thinking.

 

[Eddi]

I think "having a soul" is another way of saying "being conscious".....

If a machine was ever proven to be conscious then would severley knock my faith in God

It would make God less special

If mortals could also create conscious beings

 

[rocala]

For those who believe in souls, do you believe that A.I. could become advanced enough to attain one?

I think this is a great question. It is certainly food for thought. I daresay that one day, much information technology will consist of artificially produced organic material, so I could not rule out souls, assuming they exist.
Many people believe that trees and even rocks have souls. So where is the cut off point?

 

[Father Heathen]

I think "having a soul" is another way of saying "being conscious".....

If a machine was ever proven to be conscious then would severley knock my faith in God

It would make God less special

If mortals could also create conscious beings

Would the accomplishments of your children make you "less special"?

 

[rocala]

If a machine was ever proven to be conscious then would severley knock my faith in God

It would make God less special

If mortals could also create conscious beings

Maybe it would not be quite like that. Maybe if we could make sufficiently advanced machines, God would put the consciousness in them. Surely that would encourage faith.

 

[Eddi]

Would the accomplishments of your children make you "less special"?

It would indicate that consciousness is an emergent property of physical processes rather than something supernatural that is breathed into something so as to animate it

Which would damage my view of God

 

[Eddi]

Maybe it would not be quite like that. Maybe if we could make sufficiently advanced machines, God would put the consciousness in them. Surely that would encourage faith.

Yes, maybe!

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

And another one. I also use feelings and thinking, but I try to understand the limits of that.

 

[syo]

For those who believe in souls, do you believe that A.I. could become advanced enough to attain one?

People don't even know what a soul is.

 

[rocala]

People don't even know what a soul is.

Are you, by any chance, the exception to this?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Nope. Needs to be an organic being.

I agree at this point in time.

I think there a huge difference between organic and inorganic matter with organic material being the only major source for life.

While inorganic material is nessessary to live, and without it , life cannot exist. However as most people are aware, it's in very miniscule amounts.

To see the reverse of that composition, I think would be hugely improbable if not outright impossible unless the mystery of consciousness reveals some of its secrets that we don't know about.

 

[Father Heathen]

It would indicate that consciousness is an emergent property of physical processes rather than something supernatural that is breathed into something so as to animate it

Which would damage my view of God

Why couldn't it also be god's process?

 

[Heyo]

Because, you know, they're actually alive as opposed to an AI which is just a program. The soul/spirit is what animates our bodies and gives us our consciousness, as I understand it. There's probably other reasons I can think of, too. I don't believe AIs will ever be self-aware, anyway.

That fits. If the soul is connected to life, AI wouldn't have one. But is the soul connected to life in your opinion? Do bacteria have souls? They are alive.

 

[Heyo]

People don't even know what a soul is.

:Winner:

 

[syo]

Are you, by any chance, the exception to this?

Yes.

 

[rocala]

This is not really a new question, people have long thought about it in one way or another. Think Frankenstein or Blade Runner.
Does any religion state that life can only be created by the supreme being? Does not its creation by another but with god given skill not count?

 

[VoidCat]

@Father Heathen
Alright im now breaking down the essence of a soul. To me soul is just what makes a person/object them/it.

First we can break it down
Mind
Body
Spirit

This can be farther broken down in even smaller parts
Mind-subconsious(which includes dream self), past self(ie inner child), consiousness, current self
Body- I know most see the body as not part of the soul. The thing is to me the body is also spiritual and is the vessel we are in in this realm. In another realm we might have another body. To me the body is part of the soul in this realm as it is what's keeping you alive and it is part of you at least in this realm.

Spirit- can be broken into a few parts. Your name, qualities you have, ambitions, personality, energy...

Some of this can apply to AI. Some of it can't.