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From: jeff@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Jeff Dalton)
Subject: Re: Strong AI and consciousness
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References: <3aukr2$t3h@mp.cs.niu.edu> <1994Nov23.184324.27664@oxvaxd> <3b1ani$38p@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 18:40:22 GMT
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In article <3b1ani$38p@mp.cs.niu.edu> rickert@cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert) writes:

>I can design an objective test for primeness.  If you design an
>objective test for consciousness, which meets general agreement as to
>validity and could be applied to test robots as well as people, I
>will withdraw my claim.
>
>Until someone produces such a test, I will continue to hold that
>consciousness is subjective.

Judgments of consciousness in others are subjective, because we lack
an agreed objective test.  I can agree with you that far.  But then
I say those judgements might be wrong.  That is, there's a fact
of the matter even though we currently (and perhaps forever) lack
a suitable test.

-- jd
