“Chad: if you seriously think that Turing-completeness does not imply the possibility of sentience, then you’re definitely in the wrong place indeed.”
gwern: The implication is certainly there and it’s one I am sympathetic with, but I’d say its far from proven. The leap in logic there is one that will keep the members of the choir nodding along but is not going to win over any converts. A weak argument is a weak argument, whether you agree with the conclusion reached by that argument—it’s better for the cause if the arguments are held to higher standards.
“Chad: if you seriously think that Turing-completeness does not imply the possibility of sentience, then you’re definitely in the wrong place indeed.”
gwern: The implication is certainly there and it’s one I am sympathetic with, but I’d say its far from proven. The leap in logic there is one that will keep the members of the choir nodding along but is not going to win over any converts. A weak argument is a weak argument, whether you agree with the conclusion reached by that argument—it’s better for the cause if the arguments are held to higher standards.