The Thomistic Institute Mind, Matter, and Life: Can Machines be People, too? I Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P.
Sep 2, 2025
Fr. Anselm Ramelow, a philosophy professor at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, dives deep into machine consciousness and personhood. He critiques the notion that artificial intelligence can be considered sentient, emphasizing the lack of subjective experience and intentionality in machines. Drawing on classic literary references, he challenges listeners to rethink the essence of what it means to be a person. The discussion highlights the immaterial qualities of human consciousness, underscoring the distinctions between human beings and mere machines.
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Simulation ≠ Subjective Consciousness
- Fr. Anselm argues behavior and performance do not prove consciousness; simulation can mimic but not instantiate subjectivity.
- He shifts the burden of proof to those claiming machines are conscious because life and conscious unity remain unexplained by mere mechanics.
Stories About Making Life
- He recalls cultural stories like Frankenstein, Pinocchio, and the Golem to show historical fascination with creating life.
- These examples question whether humans can produce real conscious life or if that power belongs to God.
Qualia Point Beyond Material States
- Qualia, the felt qualities of experience, lack any physical correlate detectable in the brain and point to an immaterial aspect of consciousness.
- Fr. Anselm uses this to argue animals and humans have subjective states tied to living bodies that machines lack.
