A Station Eight Fan Web Site

Gargoyles

The Phoenix Gate

Ask Greg Archives

Coyote (robot)

Archive Index


: Displaying #1 of 20 records. : Next » : 10 » : Last » :


Posts Per Page: 1 : 10 : All :


Bookmark Link

Masterdramon writes...

Hiya Greg! Hope all is continuing to keep well.

I've been having a discussion about Coyote (the robot) with a handful of other fans, specifically regarding his relative level of sentience.

While I know you've addressed the subject in the past (here for example: https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=2219), the specific question I have is sort of tied up in the distinction between sapience and sentience, which often get conflated in pop culture thanks to sources like STAR TREK.

Basically (and apologies if I'm explaining something you're already aware of) sapience is what we might popularly think of as "human-like intelligence" - the ability to think, reason, and philosophize. Based on everything you've said on the subject in the past, I think it's fair to conclude that none of the first 5 iterations of the Coyote robot rise to the level of genuine sapience (at least, not yet).

Whereas sentience is simply the quality of an entity being self-aware of itself as a discrete being. A good rule of thumb is the "mirror test" - a sentient being is able to look at itself in the mirror and recognize "yes, that is me." To have a concept of "me" in general. Gorillas, octopuses, and (I would presume) gargoyle beasts are sentient but not sapient.

Going by the definition above, which would be the first Coyote robot between 1.0 and 5.0 (if any of them) that would be able to pass the "mirror test"?

Apologies if this question is somewhat nitpicky, just feels like the easiest way to settle the discussion since the queue happens to be open now, LOL.

Mahalo nui loa, Greg!

Greg responds...

By that definition, all of them, I guess.

Response recorded on February 11, 2022


: Displaying #1 of 20 records. : Next » : 10 » : Last » :