Are Computers "Alive"?

It is possible our consiousness is brought up from the processes our brain makes? The part of us that we feel is 'us' has the ability to use the brain to process, save and retreive information as functions, meaning that 'we', in a way, have all of these functions done for us in the background. Do you know how you are able to come with a sollution other than the fact that it pops up in your head? Do you know how you are able to know how to remember, imagine and save information?

If we manage in the future to make a computer comparable to the human brain. Meaning that it has the pre-programmed abilities to do we do (the things we do in our brain innately: problem solving, remembering, saving, imagining) and it was given the oppurtunity to learn and be conditioned. Can we say that it is not alive? If it is done properly, it should start acting similar to a human being. Can we say that it is not alive? Who's to say we are not exactly like a computer?

Some of you may say that our existance is based off a 'soul'. Something majestical and spiritual. Why does it have to be this way? Can't the physicality of the brain itself be amazing in itself? If that majestical and spiritual thing you think the soul is was labeled and defined like the neural connections and our brains and the chemical emotions, would that make it any less amazing? I don't think so.

Now what about the computer you are reading this from. Is it not alive? Sure, its conscious existance may not be similar to yours. It's not going to plot to kill you, or do anything outside of cause and effect obviously. But it is processing information like us, it has input and output and everything in between.

No. They are not alive.

Nothing in a computer happens without commands or instruction.

Everything you see on your screen is the result of two voltage levels being mixed and matched in an infinite amount of ways.

Not at this time, they are only a fraction of the Human brain or even a rats brain.

No. They are not alive.

Wasdie

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

No. They are not alive.

brandontwb

Read my edit.

Trust me, I'm a software engineer, I've studied computers on every level. They are not alive.

Basically you're far overlooking it.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

No. They are not alive.

Wasdie

Read my edit.

Trust me, I'm a software engineer, I've studied computers on every level. They are not alive.

Basically you're far overlooking it.

No. They can't even develope up their own conscious.

We're still unclear on how the brain works. It's very complex.

No. They are not alive.

Nothing in a computer happens without commands or instruction.

Everything you see on your screen is the result of two voltage levels being mixed and matched in an infinite amount of ways.

Wasdie

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]Did you even read my post? And why do you think they are not?brandontwb

Read my edit.

Trust me, I'm a software engineer, I've studied computers on every level. They are not alive.

Basically you're far overlooking it.

You're way overlooking things and still don't understand what computers truely are.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

No. They are not alive.

Nothing in a computer happens without commands or instruction.

Everything you see on your screen is the result of two voltage levels being mixed and matched in an infinite amount of ways.

psychobrew

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Read my edit.

Trust me, I'm a software engineer, I've studied computers on every level. They are not alive.

Basically you're far overlooking it.

Wasdie

You're way overlooking things and still don't understand what computers truely are.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]We are nothing but the same thing, just on a much more complex level. Are you arguing against cause and effect? I'm not sure about it personally. I think you're maybe misunderstand what I am saying a bit. I don't think computers are comparable to us, or are alive like we are in any sense, but the fact that they are processing information like we are, does that not make it alive in some way shape or form? If we were to expand on it and it comparable to the human brain, it is not alive then? Where do we draw the line?brandontwb

You're way overlooking things and still don't understand what computers truely are.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

No. They are not alive.

Nothing in a computer happens without commands or instruction.

Everything you see on your screen is the result of two voltage levels being mixed and matched in an infinite amount of ways.

Wasdie

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]We are nothing but the same thing, just on a much more complex level. Are you arguing against cause and effect? I'm not sure about it personally. I think you're maybe misunderstand what I am saying a bit. I don't think computers are comparable to us, or are alive like we are in any sense, but the fact that they are processing information like we are, does that not make it alive in some way shape or form? If we were to expand on it and it comparable to the human brain, it is not alive then? Where do we draw the line?brandontwb

You're way overlooking things and still don't understand what computers truely are.

Are you serious?

Either you're way overlooking things or you're just trying to troll everybody.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

brandontwb

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

It's impossible if you understood how a circuit board, microprocessors, and memory worked.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

No. They are not alive.

Nothing in a computer happens without commands or instruction.

Everything you see on your screen is the result of two voltage levels being mixed and matched in an infinite amount of ways.

Wasdie

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

What level of learning are you talking about? There are many programs that do learn to some extent. Not even remotely close to a humans ability (maybe that's being too kind), but there are programs that adapt. Even cars are capable of learning your driving habbits and adjusting accordingly.

The bridge is closing and you will start seeing computers that seem self aware more and more.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

Nothing a human does happens without commands or instructions either. The difference is we are coded to create or own, but that could be done on a computer as well.

psychobrew

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

What level of learning are you talking about? There are many programs that do learn to some extent. Not even remotely close to a humans ability (maybe that's being too kind), but there are programs that adapt. Even cars are capable of learning your driving habbits and adjusting accordingly.

The bridge is closing and you will start seeing computers that seem self aware more and more.

Self-aware, conscious. Alive.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

Wasdie

It's impossible if you understood how a circuit board, microprocessors, and memory worked.

You forgot one key element, the code. Also, there have been learning computers with self created AI for years, though their capabilities are fairly simple.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

Wasdie

What level of learning are you talking about? There are many programs that do learn to some extent. Not even remotely close to a humans ability (maybe that's being too kind), but there are programs that adapt. Even cars are capable of learning your driving habbits and adjusting accordingly.

The bridge is closing and you will start seeing computers that seem self aware more and more.

Self-aware, conscious. Alive.

That I can agree with.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Actually a "learning" computer is currently impossible.

Wasdie

It's impossible if you understood how a circuit board, microprocessors, and memory worked.

Only xaos' hexcore rig - the thing's a beast.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]they are processing information like we are, thegerg

[QUOTE="xaos"]Is an abacus alive? Also, do computers grow, reproduce or possess the other characteristics generally associated with life? This whole thread started on a pretty silly premise.brandontwb

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="xaos"]Is an abacus alive? Also, do computers grow, reproduce or possess the other characteristics generally associated with life? This whole thread started on a pretty silly premise.psychobrew

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]I'm talking about consciousness. Do you need to grow or reproduce to be alive? brandontwb

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]I'm talking about consciousness. Do you need to grow or reproduce to be alive? brandontwb

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="psychobrew"]

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

psychobrew

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="psychobrew"]

Since nobody really understands what gives us consciousness, it's kind of hard to answer. Who knows, maybe we are just coded to think we are conscious.

Life is pretty much the ability to reproduce (not just sex, but divide cells etc.).

Darkalfx

I doubt that they are conscious. Even if they were, they're not going to have anything resembling emotions.

Mine regularly called me "father" until I removed the speaker chip from the motherboard.

You should ask Alice if she's alive. Get your answer from the source.

You should ask Alice if she's alive. Get your answer from the source.

psychobrew

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="xaos"]Is an abacus alive? Also, do computers grow, reproduce or possess the other characteristics generally associated with life? This whole thread started on a pretty silly premise.xaos

Computer viruses re-produce.

Do real live viruses have self awareness or sentience?

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="brandontwb"]I'm talking about consciousness. Do you need to grow or reproduce to be alive? psychobrew

Computer viruses re-produce.

Do real live viruses have self awareness or sentience?

[QUOTE="xaos"]Also, computers, like abacuses, have no self-awareness or sapience, or even sentience, so none of the characteristics of consciousness or self-determination apply to them. Why would you you even imagine otherwise?brandontwb

Why would you even imagine otherwise?xaos

Maybe the TC is a computer that just wants to be a real boy.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="xaos"]Also, computers, like abacuses, have no self-awareness or sapience, or even sentience, so none of the characteristics of consciousness or self-determination apply to them. Why would you you even imagine otherwise?xaos