Epistemological Observations about Mind-Machine Equivalence

Abstract

Abstract. There is no doubt that one of the most important problems for recent philosophers is comparison of man and machine abilities. Questions such “Can machines think?”, “Have machines consciousness?”, or this more general question that “Is man a machine?” are questions which answering them has a special importance for contemporary philosophers. Perhaps this could be said that the last above question is one of the most controversial questions in philosophical studies. With an epistemological approach, we can reduce this question to “If man is (not) a machine, can he understand that?” Of course it should be said that, we can ask this question about every other conscious subject or cognitive system too (if there is). In this paper we try to answer this question and study its consequences.