Comparing David Chalmer’s and John Searle’s Attitudes Toward Strong Artificial Intelligence
Journal of Education Humanities and Social Sciences December 26, 2024 Ke Li, Jiahe Tian, Beijun Xiong
John Searle and David Chalmers hold contrasting views on whether artificial intelligence can possess consciousness. Searle argues that syntax alone, as in current AI, cannot produce genuine understanding or subjective experience, while Chalmers suggests that if a system replicates the functional organization of a conscious mind, it might be conscious. Their disagreement stems from different stances on the relationship between consciousness and matter and the nature of consciousness itself. The article examines these philosophical positions across three dimensions: differences in views on machine learning development, the mind-body problem, and the essence of consciousness.