Reply to response

200 Word Reply on why you disagree with studets post. Please read instructions carfully. Thank you

Please Respond to this student’s discussion post. For your reply, read through the other threads by members of your group and find a person with whom you disagree. Write a substantive reply (at least 200 words) and explain why you disagree.

After reading this week’s assignments, I feel that the view of the mind and body exhibited by Picard is in the category of Epophenomealism or emergentism.   In this particular category, the mind is an emergent property of the brain where thoughts and feelings are not caused by physical states.  (Forman, 2013) (Hasker, 1983).  The emergent category allows one to have willful actions (Forman, 2013) (Hasker, 1983).  Data made a willful action to refuse to undergo experimentation and willfully decided to resign from the organization Starfleet.  Maddox’s view of the mind and body problem came from the category of materialism.  In materialism, only matter and physical state exists, such as the brain; the mind does not exist in this category (Forman, 2013)(Hasker, 1983). Maddox viewed Data as a machine that was created by man as he never refers to Data as a human being or being associated with having thoughts or feelings. 

Maddox viewed intelligence, self-awareness and consciousness as characteristics of being sentient.  I feel that these characteristics are adequate when referring to the definition of sentient, as the meaning of sentient means to be able to sense or to feel things and this can be done through these characteristics.  However, in order to be a considered a “person” one should also have the ability to obtain an emotional essence and spirit, or a soul.  Humans are amazing in the fact that we are able to experience joy, sadness, pain, and other emotional feelings.  We are able to show empathy toward others and in return we are able to receive these feelings.  I think that artificial intelligence will one day in the future will be possible because of the evolving technology that is currently being developed as we know today.  There have been developments in technology that have allowed the invention of robots to aid humans in simple tasks such as using devices to turn on alarm systems and in the hospitals there are robots who have taken place of pharmacy technicians to deliver medications to areas of the hospital.  Due to these amazing inventions, I’m sure that researchers are steadily looking for ways to further advance the development of artificial intelligence.

I would not necessarily say that Maddox is right or wrong for stating that Picard was being irrational and emotional.  Maddox has a right to his own opinion as does Picard.  A person’s opinion is shaped by his or her own beliefs.   How can one determine whether someone’s belief is right or wrong if they don’t share the same view or if there view is the same?  My belief is that God determines what is right and wrong, but one who does not share my belief would say otherwise?  Are they right or wrong or am I right or wrong?  I do agree with JAG officer’s final ruling because Data has the characteristics of human behavior to have desires, interests, formulate relationships, and to make choices.  What right does anyone have to take these rights away from Data and to prevent Data from discovering whether or not he has a soul?  As citizens of the United States of America, we have rights to the freedom of speech.  Would it be okay for someone to take away our right of freedom of speech just because they could or wanted to do so?  The advancement of technology will steadily increase in the future, therefore, scientists will need to be mindful that when the ultimate artificial intelligence is created what ethical rights will these discoveries have and how will it affect the lives of the human population.  If artificial intelligence is created to mimic behaviors and feelings of humans than they too will have need to have rights or if not, artificial intelligence may rebel if they feel they are being mistreated. 

Zukiela Hundley

Resources

Hasker, W. (1983). Metaphysics: constructing a world view. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Press USA.

The mind and body presentation (2012). Liberty University. [Audio podcast].