Palatable Conceptions of Disembodied Being: Terra Incognita in the Space of Possible Minds
arXiv Preprint Archive March 20, 2025 preprint
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cs.ai Consciousness-studies Artificial-intelligence Philosophy-of-mind Cognitive-science |
| Key points | Argues that attempting to conceive of consciousness for disembodied AI leads to a notion resembling Buddhist emptiness and undermines dualistic views of subjectivity and selfhood. |
Abstract
Is it possible to articulate a conception of consciousness that is compatible with the exotic characteristics of contemporary, disembodied AI systems, and that can stand up to philosophical scrutiny? How would subjective time and selfhood show up for an entity that conformed to such a conception? Trying to answer these questions, even metaphorically, stretches the language of consciousness to breaking point. Ultimately, the attempt yields something like emptiness, in the Buddhist sense, and helps to undermine our dualistic inclinations towards subjectivity and selfhood.