Guilty robots, happy dogs : the question of alien minds / David McFarland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McFarland, David.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Animal intelligence.

Animal behavior.

Artificial intelligence--Biological applications.

Artificial intelligence.

Robotics.

Physical Description:

x, 252 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2008.

Summary:

Neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy have given us great insights into the workings of the human mind. Yet, when it comes to understanding the 'alien minds' of artificial intelligence or of animals, we take a further leap into the unknown.

Do animals have thoughts and feelings in any way comparable to humans? Can we ever know, or will the answer be forever out of our reach? If robots are given autonomy, should they also be held responsible for their actions? And if so, does that mean they must have minds?

Exploring the meeting point of the philosophy of mind, artificial intelligence, robotics, and the science of animal behaviour, Guilty Robots, Happy Dogs shows how many different-and sometimes surprising-conclusions we can draw about 'alien minds'.

Contents:

Preface: Traffic Robot vii

1 Mindless Machines 1

2 Design of Animals and Robots 24

3 Interpreting Behaviour 48

4 Beyond Automata 73

5 Mental Possibilities 96

6 The Feeling of Being 116

7 The Material Mind 140

8 Mental Autonomy 170

Epilogue: The Alien Mind 199.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-244) and index.

ISBN:

9780199219292

019921929X

OCLC:

183162115