If A.I. Systems Become Conscious, Should They Have Rights?

[Scott]

In my experience, it's a pretty bad sign when someone I'm debating doesn't care what a dictionary says

In my experience, people who rely on dictionaries know nothing about the topic.

Dictionary definitions of words can serve as anchors in a conversation to make sure that both sides are actually talking about the same thing. As I said a little further in the post you're responding to, "we can all come up with our own definitions for words, but if we're trying to discuss whether something is or is not a given word, that becomes a real problem because anyone can change the goal posts by simply coming up with their own definition of said word."

 

[Hume]

Dictionary definitions of words can serve as anchors in a conversation to make sure that both sides are actually talking about the same thing. As I said a little further in the post you're responding to, "we can all come up with our own definitions for words, but if we're trying to discuss whether something is or is not a given word, that becomes a real problem because anyone can change the goal posts by simply coming up with their own definition of said word."

Okay.

 

[Daylight63]

Dictionary definitions of words can serve as anchors in a conversation to make sure that both sides are actually talking about the same thing. As I said a little further in the post you're responding to, "we can all come up with our own definitions for words, but if we're trying to discuss whether something is or is not a given word, that becomes a real problem because anyone can change the goal posts by simply coming up with their own definition of said word."

Hopefully you have realized that there is zero reason to explain anything to @Hume. You see, Hume is on here for one reason: to troll. That's why they tell everyone to kill themselves and hurl insults literally all the time.

So don't expect Hume to understand what you wrote or care.

The reliance on the dictionary is probably best considered a pre-requisite for any discussion. The common parlance of the conversation should be established at some point. If there is disagreement the dictionary can certainly provide that grounding.

But the problem with language is the fungibility of the concepts. Words shift meaning over centuries. The best we can do is play catch up and utilize the dictionary in a meaningful, common grounds type of way.


I've read a few books about the making of the OED. Some interesting stuff. "The Professor and the Madman" and "The Dictionary People" are two really good books on the topic!

 

[Hume]

Hopefully you have realized that there is zero reason to explain anything to @Hume. You see, Hume is on here for one reason: to troll. That's why they tell everyone to kill themselves and hurl insults literally all the time.

So don't expect Hume to understand what you wrote or care.

The reliance on the dictionary is probably best considered a pre-requisite for any discussion. The common parlance of the conversation should be established at some point. If there is disagreement the dictionary can certainly provide that grounding.

But the problem with language is the fungibility of the concepts. Words shift meaning over centuries. The best we can do is play catch up and utilize the dictionary in a meaningful, common grounds type of way.


I've read a few books about the making of the OED. Some interesting stuff. "The Professor and the Madman" and "The Dictionary People" are two really good books on the topic!

^^Biggest Asshole on the forum