Computers and Consciousness
Human beings have the ability to reason, and from the very beginning of western philosophy. This ability, along with consciousness, has been cited as the hallmark of humanity; the one thing that defines us as a species and made us special. Where does our consciousness and reasoning ability come from? Are they merely the result of the physical interaction of billions of neurons within the human brain? Are consciousness and reasoning merely "motion," as Thomas Hobbes believed? Is the human brain only a complex organic computer? If so, it seem possible, even probable, that an artificial brain, based on silicon chips instead of organic carbon, could be built within the next 50 years. The links below will help you explore these questions.
Imagination, Mental Imagery, Consciousness, Cognition: Science, Philosophy & History.
Dictionary of Philosophy of Mind
PSYCHE: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Consciousness
Journal of Consciousness Studies
