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Definition of Consciousness

Let's look at an example. IBM's computer Watson has beaten the best human players in Jeopardy.

IBM's Watson Supercomputer Destroys Humans in Jeopardy | Engadget -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFR3lOm_xhE

Does Watson have consciousness? The answer is, using the OP definition, that the Watson computer only has consciousness if it has a self. Why? Because there are no such things as isolated systems:

"Truly isolated systems cannot exist in nature, other than allegedly the universe itself, and they are thus hypothetical concepts only." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolated_system

Therefore, we cannot take Watson to be an isolated system in reality.
 
Gee. I was never ``aware`` of this before.
I wonder what kind of ``state`` i have been in, up til now?
Probably like that of my grandma and her sister who both lost their consciousness about age 75. Good way to die though, imo, because a vegetable probably dont know they are dying. So they are lucky that way.
 
Is there anything special about Watson more than say a calculator? We know that a calculator has no consciousness.
Since it was named Watson, is there a Sherlock involved in all this somehow?
What does an ``isolated system`` have to do with anything?...let alone consciousness?, or any lack thereof?
 
Notice that the OP definition doesn't include a 'self', yet the consequence is that a self is needed for consciousness.

The reason for why a self is needed is because physical systems are not isolated system. So for example, the Watson computer is not a single separate system in reality.
 
theprestige said:
Argument by dictionary? Really?






Argumentum ad lexicanum?
Click to expand...

One could also use for example:

"In classical mechanics, state is a complete description of a system in terms of parameters such as positions and momentums at a particular moment in time" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State

The state of the Watson computer depends on the entire universe since there are no isolated systems. The OP definition of consciousness is meant to be exact.

The definition of being aware may be a bit trickier.

"Awareness is a relative concept. An animal may be partially aware, may be subconsciously aware, or may be acutely unaware of an event. Awareness may be focused on an internal state, such as a visceral feeling, or on external events by way of sensory perception." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aware

Yet, there is a distinct difference between aware and unaware.
 
Anders Lindman said:
The OP definition of consciousness is meant to be exact.

The definition of being aware may be a bit trickier.
Click to expand...


Since the OP definition of consciousness is "the state of being aware" any problems with the definition of being aware are also present in the OP definition of consciousness.
 
I can agree with your general definition, that: "Consciousness is the state of being aware."

How Consciousness is implemented is the real juicy question. Do you have any insights into that? Because I can offer a few, if you need them. At least based on what we already know, which isn't everything, but might be more than you assume.
 
My own definition of consciousness at a baser level would be the ability to experience qualia in some fashion. The ability to recognize the implications of said qualia or the memory to store it for future reference is not required. I would tend to say that this definition is not notably different than what we normally mean by the terms "consciousness" and "awareness" when used in regular speech.

Anyway, there's my two cents. I might just be weird though. If you should happen to hear someone talk about consciousness in a way that doesn't make sense to you, try this definition... it might work.

Can a rock (or an atom) experience qualia in some fashion? It's kind of hard to tell, actually. I do know that this notion does give a person a damn good excuse for anthropomorphizing everything in existence to a degree... which humans tend to do anyway.
 
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Wowbagger said:
I can agree with your general definition, that: "Consciousness is the state of being aware."

How Consciousness is implemented is the real juicy question. Do you have any insights into that? Because I can offer a few, if you need them. At least based on what we already know, which isn't everything, but might be more than you assume.
Click to expand...

I find the Integrated Information Theory interesting:

"Integrated information theory is a theoretical framework for attempting to understand and explain the nature of consciousness. It was developed by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Giulio Tononi of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1]" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_information_theory
 
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