On Consciousness: Understanding John Searles Basic Teachings - Assignment Example

On Consciousness: Understanding John Searle’s Basic Teachings Year Level – Section May 8, On Consciousness by John Searle 1. In the Electronic Reserve Reading “Consciousness,” John Searle poses some basic questions regarding the subjectivity of consciousness and whether this is strictly a biological process. What do you think of these arguments? What are your own conclusions?  Jean Searle believes that consciousness is a biological phenomenon, just like digestion and growth. As such, the brain causes unified conscious experiences through the synchronized neuron firings located in its thalamocortical system in a general range of 40 Hz. However, Searle points out that consciousness differs from other biological phenomena since it has a subjective or first-person ontology. With this, Searle asserts that a conscious state is not a separate entity from a physical state, but rather a state where the brain is in. Through this reasoning Searle is able to deny the concepts of duality (separation of soul from the body) and materialism (no material but only spiritual). Jean Searle’s concept of biological naturalism is unique in a sense that it marries physicality and spirituality in defining the nature of consciousness. This is tightly linked with his definition of the human brain, that which sustains human subjectivity. For this matter, I strongly believe that Jean Searle’s notion is conceptually problematic in a number of ways. Firstly, Searle is misled by the concepts of human brain and human intellect. While it is true that psychological activities are and should be within the boundaries of the physical body, this does not directly mean that all activities are contained within a specific section of the human brain. This is the reason why it will be difficult and almost impossible to embark on an experiment that specifically tackles consciousness because this is spiritual in nature. Secondly, his notion of a unified subjective experience as a definition of consciousness reinforces the fact that the human brain can only act as a mediator for the spiritual facet of human nature. This is precisely because intellectual activities, although solely mediated by a physical object, relies on a spiritual realm for it to function. Such a thing, I believe, is the human soul. 2. What is the difference between syntactic knowledge and semantic knowledge? Cite examples from your own experience.  Syntactic knowledge pertains to syntax or grammar while semantic knowledge relates with the full meaning of the language. Syntactic knowledge is the information that is used and maintained to efficiently use a system. Thus, syntactic knowledge is mastered through a particular programming language that comes from a series of commands and syntactical rules. However, it is crucial to note that complex systems are often difficult to use, especially with hierarchical or modular structures. For example, in a mail system where there are various commands that terminate a writing activity (cancelling a work, sending a message, storing a draft, or quitting the message altogether), most of these commands usually have a similar syntax but different modes of operation. Based on my own experience, syntactic knowledge is best displayed in one of my programming classes wherein I had to create a simple program for an online survey. Through use of yes-no logical statements, I were able to craft the overall flow of the questionnaire for the survey. Semantic knowledge, on the other hand, is the meaning created by the agent about external reality. Such knowledge is built through human language. In this regard, the assignment of meaning on an external phenomenon begins with the agent’s contact of any physical entity. This contact allows the agent to construct symbolic meaning about the phenomenon which is influenced by a variety of factors such as demographical background, cultural influences, and quality of lifestyle. The consolidation of these symbolic meanings shapes the agent’s internal reality. Based on my own experience, semantic knowledge is best exhibited in my definition of a happy life. Although there are many ways to define a happy life, my own contention is influenced by my socio-cultural background. As such, I firmly believe that a happy life is defined by having these important facets: professional and financial success, emotional maturity, and strong relations with family and friends. This definition, however, may appear different to a person, say, from Africa. 3. Using examples from your own experience, discuss the difference between the form and content of knowledge. What are the implications of the form and content of knowledge when assessing machine intelligence?  The difference between form and content of knowledge can be clearly explained: firstly, by revisiting the process of knowing; and secondly, by citing concrete examples from own experiences. From a theoretical standpoint, the self builds knowledge by connecting with the external world through the senses. Knowledge, in this regard, starts with the experience of a physical object through seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching. What is obtained about the object is called sense-data, and what allows for the capturing of these data is called sensation. Thus, in the self’s experience of an apple, for example, its redness and smoothness are regarded to be the sense-data that have been captured through the sensations of sight and touch. Such qualities are claimed to be part of the object’s form. However, knowledge does not end in the mere experience of an external object. As such, the intellect moves from describing what is experienced to creating a mental judgment of it. Thus, although the redness and the smoothness can be found in other objects, the self is able to judge that the object is indeed an apple by grasping the object’s essence: it is a fruit that grows in trees and is meant to be eaten. This facet of the intellect allows for the self to apprehend the content or substance of the external object that it identifies. Based on my own experience, I was able to attain knowledge about the personal computer on two levels: firstly, by having been introduced to its overall look and essential features; and secondly, by understanding the different activities that can be done with it. The first aspect pertains primarily to form since I was able to grasp the attributes of the object—the personal computer is a machine that has a screen and a keyboard, and it runs by electricity. The second aspect, on the other hand, pertains to substance as I am able to realize what the object is meant for—the personal computer can be used for online researching, for creating school reports, and for playing computer games. As regards machine intelligence, it can be claimed that its knowledge is only limited to grasping form. This assertions is bolstered by the fact that machine relies on syntactic knowledge in order to function. Such knowledge, as discussed earlier, follows a strict set of commands and cannot therefore go beyond them. Taking the robot as an example, while it is true that it can perform human activities such as walking or jumping, these activities are fed into its internal system which the robot cannot alter nor enrich. Thus, the robot only understands what is given to it and nothing more. And this is the basic reason why the robot cannot grasp the second level of knowledge which is substance, since this entails a pure intellect that is capable of thinking for itself. Such facet, as we all know, is exhibited by human intelligence. 4. What is the difference between the concepts of thinking, consciousness, and knowledge in relation to machine intelligence and human intelligence?  In order to highlight the difference between machine intelligence and human intelligence, we first look at the nature of thinking for each. Then, we further deepen the discussion by infusing the concept of consciousness for both intelligences. Machine intelligence, as revealed previously, needs syntactic knowledge to function. This knowledge utilizes a series of simple or complex commands that are fed into its system. As such, machine intelligence is limited to what is programmed into it. Human intelligence, on the other hand, is able to attain knowledge through the intellect’s processing of sense data that are obtained by having contact with the external world. Unlike machine intelligence, there is no pre-determined knowledge in human intelligence. Thus, the self can understand anything that it experiences. At this point, it can be claimed that it is consciousness that marks the stark difference between machine intelligence and human intelligence. Consciousness, as explained previously, pertains to the overall awareness of one’s existence. Awareness is attained primarily through the experience of the external world and the realization of one’s inner world, or subjectivity. By infusing the idea of consciousness, it can be asserted that unlike a human being, a machine is not freely conscious of its existence. The absence of freedom, therefore, primarily influences its mode of being and nature of existence. In this light, its knowledge has to be supplied into its system for the machine to function. There is, therefore, a pre-determined path of thinking that the machine is forced to follow. Because of this, its reaction to external forces is limited as well. Machine functionality, in this regard, is limited and controlled. Most importantly, a machine cannot grasp the essences of external objects since such intellectual activity necessitates freedom. The opposite can be said about a human being. Its consciousness marks its primary difference amongst all beings (living or non-living) in a sense that all his experiences with the external world deliver a unique and unified feeling. This arises from the fact that a human being possesses subjectivity which allows him to regard himself as an independent and self-determining agent—physically and spiritually. Physical independence means recognizing his separateness from other beings since he has his own body. Spiritual independence, on the other hand, means grasping the ‘aloneness’ of his existence and the need to determine his own happiness. Therefore, unlike a machine, there is no pre-determined knowledge for a human being, although he needs familial tradition and societal norms to help him determine his self identity. As such, human intelligence is free. Freedom, in this context, means having the power to choose own decisions and desired actions. Through this, a human being is able to understand not only his own identity but also the external reality at large. Understanding ultimately points at what things are and what are they intended for. This, as stated previously, is the grasping of essence which can only be done by a free intelligence. Because of this, a human being is said to be responsible for his own existence essentially because he is free. Although there are a lot of factors that can shape his self identity, it is only him that can decide who he wants to be—a capacity that no machine can attain. Read More