Accessibility navigation


Robot free will

Anderson, J. A. D. W. (2002) Robot free will. In: ECAI 2002: 15th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 21-26 Jun 2002, Lyon, France, pp. 559-563.

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

Abstract/Summary

We introduce the perspex machine which unifies projective geometry and Turing computation and results in a supra-Turing machine. We show two ways in which the perspex machine unifies symbolic and non-symbolic AI. Firstly, we describe concrete geometrical models that map perspexes onto neural networks, some of which perform only symbolic operations. Secondly, we describe an abstract continuum of perspex logics that includes both symbolic logics and a new class of continuous logics. We argue that an axiom in symbolic logic can be the conclusion of a perspex theorem. That is, the atoms of symbolic logic can be the conclusions of sub-atomic theorems. We argue that perspex space can be mapped onto the spacetime of the universe we inhabit. This allows us to discuss how a robot might be conscious, feel, and have free will in a deterministic, or semi-deterministic, universe. We ground the reality of our universe in existence. On a theistic point, we argue that preordination and free will are compatible. On a theological point, we argue that it is not heretical for us to give robots free will. Finally, we give a pragmatic warning as to the double-edged risks of creating robots that do, or alternatively do not, have free will.

Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Computer Science
ID Code:19105

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation