Philosophy Assignment: Exploring AI Ethics and the Mind/Body Problem

This philosophy assignment delves into the mind/body problem and its implications for artificial intelligence, drawing upon Hasker's text and the Star Trek episode "The Measure of a Man." The student analyzes contrasting viewpoints on the nature of mind and body, contrasting Picard's materialistic view of Data as a person with Maddox's dualistic perspective. The assignment explores criteria for personhood, the potential for AI development, and ethical obligations towards machines. The student sides with Maddox, arguing that Data, while advanced, is still a machine. The assignment concludes by agreeing with the JAG officer's ruling, emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making in the absence of definitive proof. A reply to a discussion thread addresses the evolution of AI and the subjective nature of treating machines ethically, contrasting AI with animals. This assignment showcases an understanding of complex philosophical concepts and their application to contemporary issues.

Running head: PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1PHILOSOPHY
Part 1
Question1
After reading the Hasker’s text, Picard’s stance is that his friend is a robot named Data,
who is a person that should be to make his own decisions (synopsis). According to his views on
the mind/body problem, he thinks that mind is not a separate entity from the body. Thus, he
believes in a materialistic nature. Picard indicates Data to be a human in his own way. In order to
be a human, Data must possess the same thinking ability like a human. Like the humans, Data
also has a brain that is capable to think. Like other humans, data’s brain also has a self-operating
computer (Hasker, 1983).
Maddox ‘s views on the mind/body problem is different from that of Picard, that is why
there is a clash between the two. Maddox’s view is that both the mind and the body have a dual
nature; that is, we have brain and a mind (Hasker, 1983). Maddox believes that human minds
have a dualistic nature, while Data have only the brain, it lacks the mind. Humans have the souls,
while machines do not possess the same (synopsis).
Question 2
The three criteria as mentioned by Maddox do sum up to make a human being. Every
man and woman possess these traits which can be summed up to make a human. I think other
than three traits: intelligence, self-awareness and consciousness no other traits are required to be
considered a person (Kosinski, Stillwell & Graepel, 2013).
Question 3
Obviously, the way artificial intelligence is depicted in the story is possible in the future.
For example, we use android cell phones based on Google Assistant, the latest Google Pixel 2

2PHILOSOPHY
XL can respond to voice commands, even the Assistant can recognize songs played in the
ambient background, it can even recognize photo content and search on it over the internet and
provide information (Følstad & Brandtzæg, 2017). Hence, the possibilities are limitless.
Question 4
Regarding this case, I will definitely take Maddox’s side because Data is just a machine
which has a humanoid appearance. Data’s arms can be detached and it can be shut down with the
push of a button. The fact that Data can learn from the surrounding and adapt accordingly is
great, but that is what Data is purposely made for. I can understand the reasons why Picard is
attached to Data, it is obvious and normal that the thing with which we communicate the most
increases our attachment with the same. Nevertheless, Picard must understand that Data is just a
machine and it can never be more than that.
Question 5
Yes, I completely agree with the final ruling of the JAG officer because, due to the lack
of the absolute proof. We must always take decisions that is most ethical and moral. Data on the
other hand has a humanoid appearance and has developed a relationship with Picard. Thus
despite being a machine has some of the incredible capabilities which is similar to humans.
Hence, the JAG officer bring up a nice point by saying “. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the
property of Starfleet? No. We have been dancing around the basic issue: Does Data have a soul?
I don’t know that he has. I don’t know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to
explore that question himself”. (Hasker, 1983).
Question 6
No, I do not think that we have obligations to treat machines ethically because machines
do not possess souls that can be condemned to hell for wrong doings and also can be glorified to

3PHILOSOPHY
heaven. Like the same way we do not treat animals better than the humans, the same way we
must not treat the machines like we do to the humans.
Part 2
Reply to the thread
Hi Sydney Jones, I appreciate your thread but I have to disagree with your point and this
is why. Firstly, the type of Artificial Intelligence that is depicted in the episode is widely
different from the present day Artificial Intelligence (A.I). The development of A.I came a long
way. A.I nowadays are smart to learn from their surroundings and adapt quickly. Like a robotic
hand learning to mimic the finger movement of a human, even a camera that is based on an A.I is
capable enough to understand the depth of a field and consequently blurs the background of an
object. There are even more examples of robots which are based on A.I and are capable enough
to understand human emotions and interact socially with humans. Thus, the possibilities are
limitless and in the coming years, we can see more advanced A.I performing more complex
tasks. While treating a robot or an A.I with is a subjective issue. A materialistic person may treat
an A.I with kindness while a spiritual person may not do the same. Hence, it varies depending
on the mindset a particular person. On the other hand, you pointed that like we do not mistreat
animals, we should also not mistreat an A.I. Sydney, I would like to differ from you because
animals do have a life and they are a vital part of natural environment. While, an A.I is created
by humans just to perform some automated, pre-programmed task.

4PHILOSOPHY
References
Hasker, William. Metaphysics: Constructing a World View, Downers Grove, Ill.,
U.S.A.:InterVarsity, 1983. Print. “The Measure of a Man”
Følstad, A., & Brandtzæg, P. B. (2017). Chatbots and the new world of HCI. interactions, 24(4),
38-42.
Kosinski, M., Stillwell, D., & Graepel, T. (2013). Private traits and attributes are predictable
from digital records of human behavior. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 110(15), 5802-5805.
.Star Trek: The Next Generation. February 13, 1989.Television Synopsis