Below, in alphabetical order, are some key terms from the Schneider reading. Pick two of these, and for each, answer the following:
- What does the term mean in the context of the reading? (Bonus: Research the term online. Can you find anything that helps to illuminate the term’s use in our reading?)
- Is there controversy surrounding the idea the term refers to? If so, what (briefly) is the controversy?
- What’s at least one question you have about the term? (Bonus: Having asked the question, speculate on what the answer might be.)
Soul Theory
- In Could You Merge With AI?, soul theory suggests that one’s existence derives from a non-physical entity separate from one’s body. This entity, the soul, contains elements such as the thoughts and characteristics that make a person themself. The soul can be seen as the combination of energy and human essence and can be associated with religion. Soul theory defines the soul as our true self. Could You Merge With AI? emphasizes that that because the body holds the soul, we are human.
- Some controversies that arise surrounding the topic of soul theory are the capability of an enhanced body to hold one’s soul and the debate of whether souls are real or not. Could You Merge With AI? briefly touches on the first controversy. The following question highlights the basis of the controversy: How can one still be a human if their soul does not reside in their original, organic body? The debate surrounding the realness of souls finds its basis in the religious connotation of the soul and the implication that holds towards the soul theory.
- If our souls inhabiting a body makes us human, would undergoing procedures such as enhancements or uploading mean that the end results would be non-human?
I think that the result would be human in the case of enhancements and uploading. As mentioned in the reading, if the enhancements do not interfere with the body in a way that would prevent it from holding the soul the enhancements should be fine. Once the enhancements begin interfering with the body in a way that would no longer allow it to hold the soul then I think that would lead to a non-human. Upon being uploaded to a vessel, if the vessel can hold the soul, then the result can be considered human. The soul holds the essence of a human so if it can be held in a vessel other than the human body the subject can still be human.
No Self View
- Could You Merge With AI? provides a very straightforward definition for the no-self view. This view suggests that a self doesn’t exist. The word illusion describes the idea of self. The term arises in a lot of Buddhist beliefs. Buddhism interprets the concept of the no-self view as the non-existence of a fixed self that one can pinpoint and hold on to.
- The controversy surrounding the idea proposed by no-self view would be the interpretation of the phrase and how different ideas can come about from those different interpretations. For example, the no-self view in Artificial You simply means that a self doesn’t exist and that technological enhancements on the body would not affect one’s status as a human. Meanwhile Buddhism argues that no-self simply means no fixed self. Another controversy would be the idea that in order for the no-self view to exist, a self has to exist in order for it to be disputed.
- How can the no-self view be considered a view and not simply a refusal to not be aware of the self?
The history and origins surrounding the no-self view could be what allows it to be considered a view and not a refusal to be aware of the self. The no-self view’s ties to Buddhism could also play a part in its consideration as a view.
Soul Theory and No-Self View present two distinct attempts at defining personhood. These takes on personhood in particular present the idea of the non-existence of something. Soul Theory suggests the non-existence of a physical self while No Self View negates the existence of a self altogether. Either way, both concepts highlight the difficulty of defining personhood. They demonstrate the extent to which this difficulty has led us towards negating a tangible self.
Amongst these two concepts of the self, spirituality and religion play a large role in their basic structure. It provides a pattern for how to think of the self, at least in terms of Buddhism, which then affects how approaches life.
Sources
Berdzenishvili, Irina. “Personal Identity 101: The Soul Theory.” Arcadia, Arcadia, 11 Feb. 2022, www.byarcadia.org/post/personal-identity-101-the-soul-theory.
“Is It True That Buddhists Believe That There’s No Such Thing as ‘Self’?” Buddhism for Beginners, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, 11 Aug. 2021, tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/is-it-true-that-buddhists-believe-that-theres-no-such-thing-as-self/.
Schneider, Susan. “Could You Merge With AI?” Artificial You: AI and The Future of Your Mind, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2021, pp. 72–81.
