Rodrigo González

According to John Searle, default positions, i.e., those intelligibility and action presuppositions, are some departing points from which pre-reflective and pragmatic assumptions are made. Postulating such points helps us deal with certain perennial philosophical issues, by leaving them aside. These problems are the existence of the external world, truth and facts, “direct” perception, the meaning of words, and causality. In this article, we argue that those default positions described by Searle constitute a default humanity, and their absence would dehumanize us. This is particularly relevant in a default position: cooperation, which is the basis of collective intentionality and the milestone of human civilization.

Charles Babbage began the quest to build an intelligent machine in the nineteenth century. Despite finishing neither the Difference nor the Analytical engine, he was aware that the use of mental language for describing the functioning of such machines was figurative. In order to reverse this cautious stance, Alan Turing postulated two decisive ideas that contributed to give birth to Artificial Intelligence: the Turing machine and the Turing test. Nevertheless, a philosophical problem arises from regarding intelligence simulation and make-believe as sufficient to establish that programmed computers are intelligent and have mental states, especially given the nature of mind and its characteristic first-person viewpoint. The origin of Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly linked to the accounts that inspired John Searle to coin the term strong AI ―or the view that simply equates computers and minds. Especially emphasising the divergence between algorithmic processes and intentional mental states, the Chinese Room thought experiment shows that, since the mind is embodied and able to realise when linguistic understanding takes place, mental states require material implementation, a point that directly conflicts with the accounts that reduce the mind to the functioning of a programmed computer. The experience of linguistic understanding with its typical quale leads to other important philosophical issues. Searle’s theory of intentionality holds that intentional mental states have conditions of satisfaction and appear in semantic networks; thus people know when they understand and what terms are about. In contrast, a number of philosophers maintain that consciousness is only an illusion and that it plays no substantial biological role. However, consciousness is a built-in feature of the system. Moreover, neurological evidence suggests that conscious mental states, qualia and emotions enhance survival chances and are an important part of the phenomenal side of mental life and its causal underpinnings. This renders an important gap between simulating a mind and replicating the properties that allow having mental states and consciousness. On this score, the Turing test and the evidence it offers clearly overestimate simulation and verisimilar make-believe, since such evidence is insufficient to establish that programmed computers have mental life. In summary, this dissertation criticises views which hold that programmed computers are minds and minds are nothing but computers. Despite the arguments in favour of such an equation, they all fail to properly reduce the mind and its first-person viewpoint. Accordingly, the burden of proof still lies with the advocates of strong AI and with those who are willing to deny fundamental parts of the mind to make room for machine intelligence.

This paper addresses two methodological paths in Artificial Intelligence: the paths of Babbage and anti-Cartesianism. While those researchers who have followed the latter have attempted to reverse the Cartesian dictum according to which machines cannot think in principle, Babbage’s path, which has been partially neglected, implies that the replacement of humans—and not the creation of minds—should provide the foundation of AI. In view of the examined paths, the claim that we support here is this: in line with Babbage, AI researchers have recently concentrated upon the replacement of human labour, and thus upon the creation of Machine Learning systems. After presenting and analysing the paths, we characterise Machine Learning via its developments and an illustrative example. Then, we put forward an argument that shows that total replacement of human labour will not be feasible for practical and conceptual reasons despite the successful developments in recent AI systems. Our discussion finally leads to optimism and awareness: AI’s advances allow humans to dedicate themselves to higher level tasks, but these advances also require that we be vigilant about the responsibilities granted to ML-based systems.

Tomando en cuenta las críticas más importantes a la teoría de los individuos transmundanos así como algunos argumentos en relación con el esencialismo de origen, este artículo trata con el problema de la identidad de aquellos individuos a través de mundos posibles. Proponemos la noción de mundo admisible como un tipo especial de modelo en Lógica Intensional, que, dentro de otro modelo, permite el mapeo de la historia e identidad de los individuos en diferentes mundos posibles. Esta propuesta sugiere una solución plausible para determinar propiedades esenciales empíricamente relevantes ostentadas por los individuos transmundanos, un método eficaz para evaluar su identidad, y, finalmente, una nueva perspectiva desde la cual reexaminar el clásico debate entre realismo y anti realismo en la Filosofía del Lenguaje.

En este artículo analizo como, dadas algunas tesis filosóficas compartidas, comparar a Searle y Descartes crea un efecto déjà vu. La primera tesis es la mente consciente que existe en primera persona. La segunda es que aquella se define mediante un concepto primitivo. La tercera es que la intencionalidad implica condiciones de satisfacción internistas. La cuarta es el cuerpo-máquina. Segundo, argumento que ambos hablan desde cosmovisiones incompatibles –la metafísica deísta versus los “hechos básicos”; y como un hecho “básico” biológico indica la no separabilidad entre mente y cuerpo (cerebro)–, Searle ni es dualista cartesiano ni de propiedades. Palabras clave: dualismo cartesiano; dualismo de propiedades; Searle; mente consciente primitiva; intencionalidad; hechos básicos.

Cuando Searle propuso el experimento mental de La Pieza China hubo gran cantidad de objeciones. Aparentemente, muchas fueron contestadas convincentemente por él. Sin embargo, Dennett y Hofstadter plantearon una interesante crítica en 1981, una que no solo era aplicable a este experimento mental, sino a muchos otros posteriores en filosofía de la mente. En particular, apuntaron a la dudosa confiabilidad de los escenarios que favorecen intuiciones sobre la propia mente de un experimentador. Así, propusieron una nueva categoría: las “bombas de intuiciones”. Curiosamente, Dennett también ha elaborado algunas bombas de intuiciones, y ello ha ocurrido pese a que no hay total claridad de cuándo es correcta la aplicación del término. En este trabajo argumento que la dificultad para caracterizar tanto dichas bombas como su utilidad no solo se explica por la naturaleza problemática de la mente, sino además por el dogmatismo que implican tanto el enfoque materialista como el dualista.

Abstract:In view of Kramer’s theory about paranoid cognition, this paper examines how exaggerated distrustand such cognition produce important negative effects upon social reality. The first section dealswith Searle’s theory of social reality, and how it is basically explained in terms of one world ofphysical particles and groups of intentional agents performing “we” actions. The aim of this sectionis to show that the “we” actions of collective intentionality allow fundamental social practices,namely, those related to institutions. Looking at trust, cooperation, and collective intentionality, thesecond section examines in what sense these three elements form the triad of human civilization.Finally, the last section analyses which negative effects exaggerated distrust and Kramer’s paranoidcognition have upon the Searlean social reality: both, which break off cooperative relations andsolemn pacts, end up disrupting the triad.Keywords: trust; distrust; cooperation; collective intentionality; paranoide cognition.

Español¿Es la abstracción de la ley, del contexto, de las necesidades, las capacidades, las virtudes o los vicios de personas concretas, algo de valor moral? Lucy responde en sentido positivo y muestra cómo el juicio abstracto de la ley (LAJ) está conectado con tres concepciones particulares de dignidad, igualdad y comunidad. En esta pieza, me enfoco en la igualdad por encima de los otros valores. Primero voy a dar una breve visión general del libro. Luego, señalaré lo que considero las contribuciones más significativas. Más tarde, haré tres preguntas para que podamos ilustrar más puntos del libro y entablar una discusión crítica.InglésIs the law’s abstraction from context, needs, abilities, virtues or vices of particular persons something morally valuable? Lucy answers in the positive and shows how Law’s abstract judgement (LAJ) is connected with three particular conceptions of dignity, equality, and community. In this piece, I focus on equality over the other values. In the rest of this paper, first I am going to provide a brief overview of the book. Then, I will point out what I consider to be the most significant contributions of the book regarding the connection between Law’s abstract judgment and equality. Later, I will ask three questions so we can illustrate further points of the book and engage in a critical discussion of LJ.FrancésL'abstraction de la loi, du contexte, des besoins, des capacités, des vertus ou des vices de personnes spécifiques est-elle quelque chose de valeur morale? Lucy répond dans le sens positif et montre comment le jugement abstrait de la loi (LAJ, par son acronyme en anglais) est lié à trois conceptions particulières de la dignité, de l'égalité et de la communauté. Dans cet article, je me concentre sur l'égalité au-dessus de toutes les autres valeurs. D'abord, je vais donner un bref aperçu du livre. Ensuite, je soulignerai ce que je considère comme les contributions les plus importantes. Plus tard, je poserai trois questions afin que nous puissions illustrer plus de points du livre et engager une discussion critique.PortuguésA abstração da lei, do contexto, das necessidades, capacidades, virtudes ou vícios de pessoas específicas, é uma questão de valor moral? O Lucy responde no sentido positivo e mostra como o processo abstrato da lei (LAJ, pelo acrônimo em inglês) está conectado com três concepções particulares de dignidade, igualdade e comunidade. Nesta peça, meu foco está na igualdade acima de todos os outros valores. Primeiramente, vou dar uma breve visão geral do livro. Em seguida, destacarei as que considero as contribuições mais significativas. Posteriormente, farei três perguntas para que possamos ilustrar mais pontos do livro e iniciar uma discussão crítica.Chino将特定人群的法律，背景，需求，能力，美德或弊端进行抽象化是否具有道德价值？露西以积极的态度回应，并展示了法律的抽象判断（LAJ）如何与尊严，平等和社交这三个特定概念联系在一起。在本文中，我将重点放在平等上。首先，我将简要介绍这本书。然后，我将指出我认为本书最重要的贡献。稍后，我会问三个问题以便我们了解书中的更多要点并进行重要讨论。

In March 2021, the Mexican Constitution was amended to transition to a system of precedents. This amendment mandates that the “reasons” of Supreme Court rulings will be binding on the lower courts. However, the reform is rooted in a long-standing practice of ‘Tesis’, i.e., abstract statements that the Court itself identifies when deciding a case. Moreover, there is no consensus as to what these reasons are and why they should be binding. The aim of this article is to identify the possible conceptions of reasons to explore the Court’s different judge-made law roles. Different common law conceptions of the ratio decidendi are used as “mirrors” to identify four models of judicial lawmaking in Mexican practice, namely: judicial legislation, implicit rules, moral-political justifications and social categories. Although the first model seems to prevail, the others provide means for a broader understanding of how the Court creates law depending on the interpretative context in which it operates.

En marzo de 2021 se reformó la Constitución mexicana para transitar a un sistema de precedentes. Esta enmienda establece que las “razones” de las sentencias de la Suprema Corte serán obligatorias para los tribunales inferiores. Sin embargo, la reforma se enmarca en una arraigada práctica de tesis jurisprudenciales, i. e., enunciados abstractos identificados por la misma Corte al resolver un caso. Además, no hay consenso sobre qué son estas razones y por qué deberían ser vinculantes. El objetivo de este artículo es identificar las posibles concepciones de razones para revelar los distintos roles de la Corte en la creación del derecho judicial. Se utilizan nociones de la ratio decidendi del common law como herramientas de introspección para identificar cuatro modelos de creación del derecho en la práctica mexicana, a saber: legislación judicial, reglas implícitas, justificaciones político-morales, y categorías sociales. Aunque la primera concepción parece ser la dominante, las alternativas amplían el abanico para entender cómo es que la Corte crea derecho dependiendo del contexto interpretativo en que opere.