A master thesis from Aalborg University
The Case for Rational Persuasion: Great Delusion or Genuine Change of Mind
Author(s)
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-08-09
Pages
128 pages
Abstract
This paper focuses on a defense of rational persuasion against challenges that deterministic views of free will present. These are questions regarding ontology, epistemology and the philosophy of mind, drawing on research from neuroscience and evolutionary biology. Three positions: Hard Determinism, Compatibilism and Libertarianism are analyzed extensively. Arguments are given for why the first two monist philosophies cannot account for free, rational persuasion and therefore some form of substance dualism is advised as the best explanation of human freedom and rationality. The possibility of creating a sentient, strong artificial intelligence indistinguishable from human beings is discussed, and in the light of this work it is proposed that while such entity may be very persuasive, it cannot benefit from the kind of conscious experience, freedom and rationality humans have.
Keywords
Documents
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