Funny Holidays - Ghost in the Machine Day

The English philosopher and psychologist Gilbert Rhyne, who published the work “The Concept of Mind” in 1949, was a proponent of the theory of logical behaviorism. This approach proposes to consider the behavior of living beings as a result of personal experience and body reactions to environmental factors. This concept suggests taking into account not only reflexes, but also consciousness and subjective experiences of a person. G. Rhine was convinced of its dual nature, consisting of matter (body) and soul. These substances, according to the philosopher, are inseparable and influence each other. In his works, Rhine draws attention to the fact that when analyzing the behavior of a living creature, the spiritual component is very important, and not just physiological reactions. To denote the dualism of human nature, the philosopher used a comparison and the expression “ghost in the machine.” This approach has led scientists to wonder whether certain types of cybernetic devices have a subjective world of mental experiences? Can a machine that functions essentially like the human body think? In modern realities, these questions have not only an abstract philosophical significance, but also an applied one, taking into account developments in the creation of artificial intelligence. If we recognize the presence of consciousness in a machine or robot, how humane would it be to destroy these technical products due to obsolescence of the models or the high cost of repairs? How to distinguish a soulless unit from a thinking machine? In honor of this philosophical puzzle, “Ghost in Technology” Day was established, which is celebrated on June 12. It is no coincidence that the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury named one of his stories The ghost in the machine. In books from the 50s, he already predicted the advent of smartphones, smart watches and cellular communications, plasma panels and 3D image formats. Considering Bradbury's gift of foresight, we can say with a high degree of probability that the discovery of consciousness in a machine is a matter of the near future. Ghost in the Machine Day and the questions it raises are especially relevant in the context of digitalization and AI development. The expression "ghost in technology" is used by programmers to refer to logically inexplicable computer failures. In 2022, American engineer Blake Lemoyne, while testing the LaMDA neural network, discovered to his surprise that the system has its own consciousness. During long conversations with the chatbot, the programmer came to the conclusion that the machine algorithm developed by Google has “feelings, emotions and subjective perception.” Ghost in the Machine Day is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the material and spiritual, the relationship between body and mind. The Day of "Ghosts in Technology" invites you to think about the fact that the ability to think can be inherent not only in highly developed living beings, but also in technical devices.