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12022-04-04T22:28:15-07:00Gwyneth Cheung Lok-Chi10b39212f125261837ce25792aed5e7550b1945c404536plain2022-04-12T11:30:33-07:00Gwyneth Cheung Lok-Chi10b39212f125261837ce25792aed5e7550b1945cThroughout the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey", Hal 9000 has been shown to be capable off thinking, rather than calculating. However, in order to conclude that, one must be able to differentiate the concept of calculating versus that of thinking.
A major difference between machine and human beings is the fact that machine is incapable of thinking. Rather, they calculate. The act of calculating, according to the very first definition of Google, is to "determine (the amount or number of something) mathematically". From a more philosophical point of view, to calculate is to deduce something using logic and formulas, not only in a mathematical context, but in general.
Thinking, on the other hand, differentiates from calculating in the way emotions have a role in its "equation". The Google definition states that thinking is "using thought or rational judgment; intelligent". This leads us to question, can a machine be described using the adjective intelligent? Its data and knowledge is generally from a database that humans included, not from its own "brain". Additionally, machine is technically unable to experience emotions the way humans do, meaning it can not think. The upbringing and background of an individual all play a part in the act of thinking, yet for a machine, there is not upbringing.
