Original scientific paper

Consciousness: Natural and Artificial

Bruce J. MacLennan ; Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Tennessee, USA

Abstract

Based on results from evolutionary psychology, we discuss important functions that can be served by consciousness in autonomous robots. These include deliberately controlled action, conscious awareness, self-awareness, metacognition, and ego consciousness. We distinguish intrinsic intentionality from consciousness, but argue it is also important to understanding robot cognition. Finally, we explore the Hard Problem for robots (i.e., whether they can experience subjective awareness) from the perspective of the theory of protophenomena.

Keywords

autonomous robot; awareness; consciousness; evolutionary psychology; the Hard Problem; intentionality; metacognition; protophenomena; qualia; synthetic ethology

Hrčak ID:

23583

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23583

Publication date:

15.2.2008.

Article data in other languages: french german

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