karolinasuchanek

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Although it does seem to be a good introduction to the problem, and contains a nice overview of the main lines of thinking, the author takes a somewhat tautological approach and makes far too many assumptions and too few careful definitions (such as her casual assertion that computers can make decisions, or that imagining a being which can think and feel and perceive and decide and not be conscious is easy, even given her precise definition of consciousness). I think her dismissal of free will questions was a bit facetious. As was the declaration that one who didn't believe in free will or consciousness could choose to behave as though they did... If there is no free will, how can there be a choice of any kind? The comments on confabulation of motive, and of the same stimulus provoking conscious decisions and unconscious actions was interesting, but not convincing. Far from the worst philosophical 'bait and switch', but still not very convincing. It may be the best possible, given the 'very short' format, however.

2020-08-09 02:03