Can Machine Know?
One of the challenging and debatable topics in today’s technologically advanced world is to answer a question “Can Machine Know?” Problems associated or surrounding this topic is to understand meaning of the words ‘know’ and ‘machine’ and find a meaningful linkages between them.
In this essay, for simplicity, I shall consider “machine” as pre-programmed man-made equipment (like automatic washing machines, computer aided machines). To begin with let us consider the definition of the word knowledge to be the ability to have information within oneself as a result of experience, or because you have learned it or have been told about it. The core of the definition is possession of specific information. Interestingly, the word is generally defined in the context of mankind, no direct context for non-living object. Therefore, I take liberty to notionally extend the definition also to a machine. Thus, I say that a specific piece of information embedded in a machine may be considered as knowledge possessed by a machine.
Further, in this essay, I shall use the words ‘know’ and ‘knowledge’ synonymously without getting into the finer literary aspects of the two words and carry same meaning and relevance for man and machine. However, the problems of defining the words ‘machines’ and ‘know’ along with their linkage remains the core of the discussion.
I shall discuss the aforementioned issues based on the Social, emotional and technological aspects of today’s common man. These aspects will provide me a framework for the discussion and help me find an answer to the question ‘Can machines know?’
Let me begin the discussion with an example of automatic washing machine. It has ability to take in and out water and detergen ...