While reading this article, I thought about what intelligence and consciousness really mean. Think about it, can somebody be intelligent and not have consciousness, or visa versa? There are so many factors that play into my opinion, one of them being my religious beliefs. In Brave New World, Bernard is one of the few Alphas that seem to be aware of consciousness and the possibility of having an authentic existence. In the article, the author discusses Kurzweil’s belief that computers will eventually become superintelligent—intelligence plus consciousness. However, in my opinion, computers are not capable of having consciousness.
Consciousness is what separates us from animals. Even the most intelligent animal does not exhibit the ability to make as sophisticated judgments as the average human toddler. Human consciousness means “to be aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings, to learn from the past and experiences of others and be able to plan for the future.” (Hornor)
Bernard exhibits consciousness despite all the hynopaedic repetitions from his childhood. Hemholtz Watson, likewise, develops awareness that appears unique to Alphas. Bernard tells Lenina when they visit the sea that he wants to be unique. He wants to be something that is not part of something else. In stating this, he is showing that he has consciousness. “As though I were more me, if you see what I mean. More on my own, not so completely a part of something else. Not just a cell in the social body” (Huxley, 90). Therefore in Brave New World, intelligence and consciousness are linked.
Grossman states that technology is growing at a rapid pace. Studies have found that "technological progress happens exponentially, not linearly” (Grosssman). He states, in summarizing Kurzweil and other Singularitarians, that eventually artificial intelligence will eventually create superintelligent computers that will develop consciousness.
“All that horsepower could be put in the service of emulating whatever it is our brains are doing when they create consciousness — not just doing arithmetic very quickly or composing piano music but also driving cars, writing books, making ethical decisions, appreciating fancy paintings, making witty observations at cocktail parties.”
The concepts of consciousness and intelligence are fundamental to my beliefs as an Evangelical Christian. I believe that God made man in His “image,” forming man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life; and man became “a living being.” (Genesis: 1:26) In my opinion, God is the ultimate creator, therefore technology can never become conscious because God did not intend for computers to be more than machines. God is the author of human consciousness and intelligence.
I believe that humans are the only species that has consciousness. Perhaps by 2045 we will have superintelligent computers. Technology is growing at a fast pace; but no matter how intelligent it might get, it will never reach full ‘human’ consciousness.
References: Brave New World, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2048299,00.html, and http://www.ucgstpaul.org/vcm/vol02/iss07/ai.htm
Nice job.
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