Problem Set 10

Problem Set 10

Instructions

This problem set is due in class Thursday, 11/08. Again, I do not mind students working on the problem sets in groups--it is, in fact, encouraged--but your answers must be your own. If you have any question, puzzle, or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me (berkich@gmail.com; 3976 office, 944-2756 mobile--texts strongly preferred).

A. The Turing Test

The Turing Test for Machine Intelligence presupposes that

The perfect imitation of intelligence is intelligence.

In a single page essay, answer each of the following questions:

  1. What are the differences between the Turing Test as Turing himself proposed it and the Turing Test as Nathan has deliberately modified it.
  2. Do Nathan's modifications help or hurt the chances the test will result in a false positive (or a false negative!) for determining whether Ava has the capacity for human-level intelligence?
  3. In light of Ava's portrayal in Ex Machina, is the perfect imitation of intelligence intelligence? Why or why not?

B. The Case of Mary

In a single page essay, answer each of the following questions:

  1. Assuming you are having to explain it to someone who is not in the class, what is the Case of Mary, and what is it supposed to show?
  2. In light of Ava's portrayal in Ex Machina, is there something it is like to be Ava? That is, has Ava subjective experience? Why or why not?

C. The Chinese Room Thought Experiment

In a single page essay, answer each of the following questions:

  1. Assuming you are having to explain it to someone who is not in the class, what is Searle's Chinese Room Thought Experiment, and what is it to supposed to show?
  2. Although it is not directly addressed in Ex Machina in the same way the Case of Mary is, Caleb does emphasize the problem of understanding Ava's understanding. In light of the sessions between Ava and Caleb, should Caleb conclude that Ava does understand their conversations, or should he remain skeptical? Why or why not, as the case may be?

Please note that I will be grading this problem set myself.