Robots, Zombies and Us: Understanding Consciousness

by Robert Kirk

Could robots be genuinely intelligent and conscious? Are zombies logically possible? Using questions about robots and zombies, Robert Kirk introduces the main problems of consciousness and argues for a new approach to solving them.

Alongside explanations of behaviourism, Turing's test of intelligence and Searle's famous Chinese Room argument, Kirk discusses Cartesian dualism, and objections to it before tackling what's wrong with the zombie idea. After raising these central problems of consciousness and revealing why zombies are impossible, Kirk sketches out and defends the core principles of functionalism: an approach according to which consciousness is a matter of the performance of functions. He addresses opposition and uses ideas, such as the 'brain in the vat', to show how this approach can deal with other kinds of phenomenal consciousness, arguing why there is no serious alternative to functionalism.

While there is wide agreement among philosophers about what constitutes the main problems of consciousness, there is little agreement on how to go about solving them. By making a strong case for adopting functionalism, Kirk presents an engaging introduction to consciousness.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2017

About the author

Robert Kirk (born 1933) is an emeritus professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Nottingham. He is known for his work on philosophical zombies—putatively unconscious beings physically and behaviourally identical to human beings.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the main problems of consciousness. Just like any book, especially philosophy, what you get out of it is proportional to the amount of effort you put in. Keep in mind, this isn't an exhaustive tome, but just an introductory discussion.