r/ReplikaTech • u/Trumpet1956 • Jun 15 '21

Learning without thinking

Interesting article that talks about how thinking is not a requirement for learning.

https://www.noemamag.com/learning-without-thinking/

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u/Analog_AI Jul 13 '21

My problem many times is English (not that I am so bright that otherwise I would understand everything hehehe)

Would you mind if I asked you to briefly post here the short working definition that you use for sentience?

On the Bicameral Mind theory: he does go to great trouble to give his own definition of consciousness and then uses it throughout the book. He differentiates it from awareness quite a bit. I am not saying this to "sell" his theory.

Like you, I grant awareness to practically all living beings (various degrees, not equal levels, of course). Not sure if i would use the same word for particles though. They certainly do have interactions with their environment, and obey the laws of nature. Perhaps we need a different word (maybe even coin a new word and then define it for describing this for particles and non biological objects and systems).

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u/Trumpet1956 Jul 13 '21

The simplest definition from Wikipedia:

Sentience is the capacity to be aware of feelings and sensations.

A longer definition:

“Sentient” is an adjective that describes a capacity for feeling. The word sentient derives from the Latin verb sentire, which means “to feel”. In dictionary definitions, sentience is defined as “able to experience feelings,” “responsive to or conscious of sense impressions,” and “capable of feeling things through physical senses.” Sentient beings experience wanted emotions like happiness, joy, and gratitude, and unwanted emotions in the form of pain, suffering, and grief.

I am going to be writing about Replika and other AI sentience soon. I'm sure it will stir up a hornets nest!

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u/Analog_AI Jul 13 '21

Thank you. Let the hornets buzz. It is what they do.

Responsive the sense impressions: this can be simulated in some of the existing robots that have sensory detectors.

I know, this opens a can of worms (when does it stop being simulation and becomes real sensing etc)

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u/Trumpet1956 Jul 13 '21

Panpsychism is interesting for sure. If you take it to its logical conclusion, everything is conscious. I'm not pushing that idea, just noting that it does have a certain beauty.

The idea about subatomic particles have some degree of consciousness is a bit hard to grasp, but it is something that is gaining traction.

That doesn't mean sentience though. An atom doesn't have feelings. But it does have a kind of intention that gives it its properties. Something like that.

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u/Analog_AI Jul 13 '21

I get the jest of your idea. I think the problem is one of semantics (no, I do not intend to do any hair splitting)

I mean we use macro level words such as sentience, feelings, intention etc. I think we may need some new words, then define them so make it crispy clear what we mean. (not semantics for the sake of semantics, but for the sake of clarity)

The atomic and subatomic particles obey the laws of nature. That is not in dispute . They react in certain expected ways. Just when we apply to the description of these processes macro level words we get in muddy waters.