Machine Mentality

Dr. Istvan Berkeley

Department of Philosophy and Institute of Cognitive Science

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

 

Abstract

In this talk, the question of whether machines can have mental states will be addressed. By considering briefly the history of this idea and some famous comments on the topic, some refinements to the concept will be made. Then it will be argued that not only is it perfectly permissible to attribute mental states to machines, but this is in fact something that is commonly done.