How is sentience defined?

Question

Is sentience an illusory result of our complex behavior, or is our complex behavior a result of our sentience?

As an example: Would it be possible to write a computer program that exactly simulates sentient behavior, without it being sentient itself?

Answer 1

The ability to have feelings.

Answer 2

Sentience is the applied ability of sensing things and interpreting those sensations.

Sense and simulation are two totally different things.

I would have to say that complex behavior is a result of sentience.

Therefore, a computer program, no matter how well written, could never obtain sentience.

Answer 3

for animals its defined as the ability to use tools, communicate ideas and untilize fire. Obviously there is some flexibility to the definition, but in braod strokes, those are sort of minimum requirements.



As for a computer program, there is an experiment called the turing test that sets the standard for sentience. If a program can communicate successfully with a person for a period of time without the person becomnig convinced its a program, its considered sentient.

Answer 4

sen·tience noun

\ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ən(t)s, ˈsen-tē-ən(t)s\

Definition of SENTIENCE

1: a sentient quality or state

2: feeling or sensation as distinguished from perception and thought

First Known Use of SENTIENCE

1839

Answer 5

Not really. You cannot play God. That would be a cybernetical paradox.

Answer 6

By your mom.



Yeah, that's right, she was a contributor to dictionary definitions.

Answer 7

"I think. Therefore I am."