Free will, consciousness and AI: a conversation with Daniel Dennett

Influence of Gilbert Ryle and the Ghost in the Machine

Daniel Dennett's career was greatly influenced by his doctoral advisor, Gilbert Ryle, who challenged the popular dualistic view of the mind and the body as separate entities. Ryle's concept of the 'ghost in the machine' aimed to debunk the idea of a non-physical mind. Dennett recalls initially being drawn to Ryle's work and applied to study with him at Oxford. Despite initially being rejected by Ryle's college, Dennett was eventually admitted based on his application and a recommendation letter from Quine. Ryle served as a supportive mentor during Dennett's studies and helped boost his confidence.

Challenging Dualism and Understanding Consciousness

Dennett's works, including 'Consciousness Explained,' explore his perspective on consciousness. He argues against the popular notion that consciousness involves something beyond physical matter and emphasizes that consciousness is rooted in information processing. Dennett believes that human consciousness is special and differs in its capabilities from the consciousness found in other animals. He rejects the idea of a Cartesian theater, which suggests a central place in the brain where conscious experiences are perceived, and instead highlights the distributed nature of consciousness, which emerges from the interaction of various mental processes and competences.

The Chinese Room Thought Experiment and AI

Dennett's conversation touches upon John Searle's Chinese room thought experiment, which challenges the idea of machine understanding and artificial intelligence. Searle argued that a program simulating conversation in Chinese without understanding the language does not possess genuine understanding. However, Dennett disagrees and believes that AI can achieve understanding to a certain extent. He suggests that alignment with human values is difficult because even Homo sapiens exhibit diverse values. He cautions against creating autonomous conscious machines without solid mechanisms for value alignment, highlighting the potential dangers of releasing self-controlled machines with persuasive and manipulative capabilities.

The Compatibility of Free Will and Determinism

Dennett asserts that free will is compatible with a determinist universe. He defines free will as the ability to make decisions independently, without external coercion or manipulation. He emphasizes the importance of self-control and the ability to navigate our own degrees of freedom. Dennett believes that personal responsibility is intertwined with free will, as humans take responsibility for their actions based on their autonomous decision-making. He acknowledges the challenge of determining when individuals may lose the free will worth wanting, such as in cases of aging and senility.

Philosopher's Zone

Free will, consciousness and AI: a conversation with Daniel Dennett

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Influence of Gilbert Ryle and the Ghost in the Machine

Challenging Dualism and Understanding Consciousness

The Chinese Room Thought Experiment and AI

The Compatibility of Free Will and Determinism

The Importance of Functional Understanding

The Importance of Self-Control and Preserving Decision-Making

The Cartesian Theater, qualia

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