Philosophy Final instead of the New Star Wars

 Intelligence

Intelligence, defined by Merriam-Webster is, " the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations; the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests); mental acuteness." By these definitions intelligence seems like it is not specifically for humans and animals, but very possible for a computer. If there is a game that is being played and written in the code is the decision for it to create harder opponents as the player levels up, then by definition, that is Intelligence. When this diverges is when we try to title it "Artificial Intelligence."

Being human we do not question who decides what movements and actions we make. We know that each one of us has our own choices and decisions that we can make without having to question if we have intelligence or artificial intelligence. Much like a computer or machine, we function with logic and reason, along with moral judgement most of the time. What makes us different than a computer is that we have a soul. We act out of emotional drive sometimes, which can lead to rash and bad decisions. Computers think analytically and are rational with their decisions. The answer is a matter of 1s and 0s that all make since. If it does not make logical since and is supposed to be right then there is a conflict of interests. Such is the case with Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey when he does not open the door. In iRobot, Sunny has a somewhat artificial conscience and feelings. Would this teeter on the boundary of human classification?

As we read in the Most Human Human, the turning test is used to determine if a computer has artificial intelligence. Certainly in the movies such as iRobot, Ex-Machina, BladeRunner, and Her, there is no doubt that these movies all possess characters that are machines with artificial intelligence. Each of these characters would pass the turning test had they not been visible, since their knowledge is far enough in that it would trick a person who was trying to test them. But how would we really know what is learned and what is programmed. Humans learn through experience and errors. How would a machine learn?

For spontaneous artificial intelligence to occur i think that this is an impossible feat. Down the road somewhere someday, humans will create enough artificial intelligence that it will pass the turning test along with possibly a visible recognition test that fools most humans that it is even a computer program. The hardest part that we have today is programming. There is so much code and input that goes into simply making a webpage that functions smoothly, imagine how much would be required for it to think analytically and create a conscientiousness within the programming structure of the code. Personally i think that it will happen accidentally. It will appear as a glitch or a bug that no one will know why it is there and either left to be analyzed or else shut down and restarted. In today's times there are forms of artificial intelligence all around us. But to the extent that movies make it out to be not yet. That is just a matter of when.

Free Will and Determination

Free will and determination is a choice that every "person" has. This is also the case for some animals, according to Frankfurt. But what William James says is very true, "When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice." In other words i made a choice to do this project, which was in my best interest. Had i not made that choice and make the choice not to do the paper at all that would have been a choice as well. What makes everyone of us different it the free will of choices that we make. It determines who we become and where we move on through our life.

As humans, we have desires, wants and dreams that we all wish to attain. In the movie the Cooler, the main character seems like he is all down on his luck all of the time. This is just who he is as a person. He is extremely unlucky and makes the choice to stay in the situation. Frankfurt talks about how "the essential difference between persons and other creatures is to be found in the structure of a person's will." What he means here is that we as humans share our desires and wants and dreams. It is possible that the exact same dream is that of another person. These would be second-order desires says Frankfurt. Every animal share the first-order desires of water, food, sleep. But we as humans have desires.

In the Cooler it only seemed that his desire was to be our of the casino business. Then, he met a lady and his wants and desires changed along with his personality and demeanor. Here, his second-order desires changed and so does his choices. This is not in the best interest of the casino owner so he takes away his choice of having the lady. This spins him back down to where he feel like there is no choice for him at all again. What the antagonist does here is use the "Violation of the second order", which is where the desires are moving a person to do their actions instead of their will. His desire is to keep the "cooler" at the casino. 

For the everyday person having to think about if there is the option to make a choice or decision is not thought of all to often. Most of the time there is always the option, just be prepared for the consequences. If i decide to go 25 over the speed limit on East parkway no one can tell me i can't. But if a police officer sees me there is a very good possibility that i will get a ticket, which is the consequence of my action. Some choices like going to college seem like they are not a choice anymore. It is hard to find work in today's society if one does not have a college degree. For this instance the choice does not seem to be there. 

Everyday we make choices that shape our lives. Who we become and what we learn is gathered from these choices. Some are made by us, other are made for us, and better yet; sometimes there is no choice. But in all of these circumstances each one of us does have the choice not to choose.