No Algorithm for Self-Awareness On the Human Exclusivity of Awareness of Awareness
Civitas Augustiniana 2025 DOI: 10.21747/civitas/13a9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that AI systems cannot achieve self-awareness because they lack subjective experience and consciousness, making any algorithm insufficient for genuine self-awareness. |
Abstract
This paper addresses the question of whether AI can have self-awareness in the Brentanian framework of inner perception and Kriegel’s view on self-representationalism. First, I will discuss the notion of inner perception in Brentano, showing that, when one is conscious of the object of consciousness, at the same time, she is conscious of that mental state, and there is a subjective unity. Kriegel, with his same-order self-representationalism, strengthens Brentano’s notion of self-awareness. Both talk about a unity of consciousness which has for-me-ness. Then, I will show that the predictive output of any AI system cannot be compared with such awareness of awareness because it is devoid of the subjective experience, and it lacks consciousness altogether. Hence, there is no algorithm for self-awareness.