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From: boone@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu
Subject: Self Awareness Experiment
Message-ID: <25MAR94.03102200@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu>
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Organization: Northern Arizona University
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 1994 03:10:22 GMT
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A biologist friend of mine believes chimpanzee self awareness can
be proven by the red ribbon experiment. Take an assortment of
primates and on by one stick a red ribbon on their heads without
them noticing it. Then let them view themselves in a mirror. Most
will show no extra interest in their reflection.  A chimpanzee on
the other hand will reach up and pluck the foreign object from
his or her head using the mirror as a guide.

My friend contends this proves the chimp is "self aware" and
there for conscious. I argue that red ribbon experiment only
demonstrates visual-spacial skills and a machine could be built
which would pass the ribbon test. Such a machine would be far
from conscious.

It would have to
     1. poses vision
     2. be able to differentiate reflected and unreflected views
     3. identify its own image
     4. identify changes in its own image

Or have I missed something? Would this be so terribly difficult
or dose the red ribbon experiment really demonstrate self
awareness?

---------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Boone                           Northern Arizona University
BOONE@NAUVAX.UCC.NAU.EDU            Flagstaff AZ
