[Buddha-l] Does robots have consciousness?

[Christopher Fynn]

<< When a computer and/or robot possesses consciousness we will know it because 
it will tell us so. Even more convincing would be a computer that is capable of 
asking itself the question "am I conscious - and if so, what does that mean.... 
and who the hell am I, anyway?" >>

More than 35 years ago I recall someone asking the Tibetan lama Kalu Rinpoche 
about the possibility of conciousness in computers robots etc. and he replied 
that if the conditions to support conciousness existed - whether natural or 
artificial - a sentient being could take rebirth there. So if someone could 
build a robot capable of supporting conciousness then conciousness could "enter" 
that robot - as far as he was concerned it was possible for a being to take 
rebirth in/as that robot.

Some Tibetan texts, including Gampopa's "Jewel Ornament"  refer to actions 
causing beings to take rebirth in "occasional hells" where conciousness is 
attached to some inanimate object.


- Chris

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