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Response Paper #2 - Grade: B
Philosophy and Contemporary Ideas (Liberty
University)
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Luke Dedekind
Phil 201-004
September 19, 2021
Response Paper 2: Androids and the Mind-Body Problem
Mind-body dualism is defined as the view that human beings are composed of both a
spirit-mind and a non-conscious physical body. Captain Picard, the captain of the Enterprise
and Data’s commanding officer, gives an adequate example of the mind-body dualism term.
Although Picard acknowledges Data is a machine, he also states the irrelevant behind this, “We
too are machines, just machines of a different type.” Picard acknowledges we are similar to data,
in the sense he was created by humans, and as human beings we are created from our parents'
DNA. Picard is demonstrating mind-body dualism by defending Data and explaining that he has
a spirit-mind with a non-conscious body. Picard puts Maddox on the stand and asks for the
“definition of a sentient being.” Maddox responds with three criteria; “Intelligence, self-
awareness, and consciousness.” Picard asks Maddox to prove to the court if he is sentient,
Maddox goes on and asks Picard each of the criteria to prove his sentience. Picard continues to
demonstrate how Data is not a piece of property; but, a self-aware, conscious, and intelligent
creation. In conclusion, Picard believes Data is more than artificial intelligence. When Picard
questioned Data, he met all the criteria in which Maddox used to illustrate sentience. Therefore,
concluding with Picard illuminating Mind-body dualism throughout this episode.
Mind-body materialism is the view that conscious human minds are the product of the
physical brain activity, and nothing more. Commander Bruce Maddox, a member of the scientific
research division of Starfleet, gives a sufficient example of the mind-body materialism term.
Maddox views Data as only complex matter, he doesn’t see Data the same way Picard views
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Data. Maddox only sees the android as a creation from Starfleet and refers to Data as “it” instead
of “him”. Maddox wants to clone Data to create a fleet of androids similar to him, making us
believe Maddox views him only as machinery that can be replicated and not a human being with
their own individual personality. Materialism is concerned solely upon the realization; every
substance is simply complex matter.
Genesis 1:27 states, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God, He created
them; male and female He created them” (NIV). I believe God creates each individual uniquelly
and with their own personality which makes us extraordinarily different from everyone else.
However, when humans try to distort the image of God, and try to create their own version of
His creation, they slowly reciprocate towards a different image. Such that, scientists are creating
A.I. to act and be considered as human-beings. Maddox defines sentient as self-aware,
conscious, and intelligent, however I believe, personality should be factored into this equation.
God perfectly molded each individual with unique gifts and therefore, humans should not
attempt to create otherwise. When we try to create like replicas of God’s creation, we distort His
image of us. In conclusion, I believe along with self awareness, consciousness and intelligence,
personality is a highly important trait to be considered.
I believe artificial intelligence will reach the level as it is presented in the story. In the
past decade, A.I. has vastly increased. Scientists and engineers everyday are working and
creating different machines and robots to complete different tasks. We have cars that drive
themselves like “Tesla”, we have smart phones that can do almost everything we ask and
consumers can order anything they please and receive the product the next day. Amazon has
released for the past decade their Alexa virtual assistant devices. These devices can do
almost anything you ask them. In the modern market we are in, there is competition amongst
any
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business on any product. Artificial intelligence is only improving, Data becoming a reality would
not be a surprise to me.
