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On the epigenesis of meaning in robots and organisms: Could a humanoid robot develop a human(oid) Umwelt?

This paper discusses recent research on humanoid robots and thought experiments addressing the question to what degree such robots could be expected to develop human-like cognition, if rather than being preprogrammed they were made to learn from the interaction with their physical and social environ...

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Published in:Sign Systems Studies Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 101 - 112
Main Author: Ziemke, Tom
Format: Article
Published: University of Tartu 2002
Subjects:
Epigenesis
Humanoid robots
Cognition
Social context
Infant psychology
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:This paper discusses recent research on humanoid robots and thought experiments addressing the question to what degree such robots could be expected to develop human-like cognition, if rather than being preprogrammed they were made to learn from the interaction with their physical and social environment like human infants. A question of particular interest, from both a semiotic and a cognitive scientific perspective, is whether or not such robots could develop an experiential Umwelt, i.e. could the sign processes they are involved in become intrinsically meaningful to themselves? Arguments for and against the possibility of phenomenal artificial minds of different forms are discussed, and it is concluded that humanoid robotics still has to be considered "weak" rather than "strong AI", i.e. it deals with models of mind rather than actual minds.
Käesolev artikkel käsitleb uuemaid uurimusi inimsarnaste robotite vallas ning mÕtte-eksperimente, mis tegelevad küsimusega, mil määral seesugustel roboteil vÕiks eeldatavasti areneda inimsarnane teadvus, kui ette programmeerituse asemel panna nad Õppima - suhtlemise kaudu oma füüsilise ja sotsiaalse keskkonnaga, nagu inimlapsed. Iseäranis huvipakkuv küsimus (nii semiootilisest kui ka kognitiivteaduslikust perspektiivist) on, kas seesugustel roboteil vÕiks areneda kogemuslik omailm, s.t kas märgiprotsessid, milles nad osalevad, vÕiksid saada neile enestele sisemiselt tähenduslikuks? Käsitletakse nii poolt- kui vastuargumente tehisvaimu erinevate vormide vÕimalikkuse suhtes ning järeldatakse, et inimsarnaste robotite valdkonda tuleks pigem pidada "nÕrgaks" kui "tugevaks tehisintellektiks".