Role of a Supercomputer - Essay Example

The problem was clear to the average reader and did not require a reader to go through it severally to understand the message that was being put across in the essay. However, the essay made hasty conclusions and provided incomplete arguments as the evidence that was provided was not sufficient to prove some of the points presented in the essay (White, 1996, 40). This is seen in the argument that the computer is not capable of understanding the connection between ideas on its own as this is a form of understanding that is developed by human beings. Nonetheless, it should also be noted that human beings are responsible for how computers work and all the input that goes into them. Therefore, self-awareness for the computer can't be ruled out as the computers can learn it from the human elements that the scientists input into it.

The point that the essay states is that agreeing to what the supercomputer is asking for based on self-awareness will imply that the computer will not work in the way it is supposed to can be considered an unknown fact. The main reason why this is considered an unknown fact is that it cannot be used in the science of philosophy and cannot be verified (White, 1996, 47). There is no way of being certain that the computer will fail to function as it is supposed to if it was allowed to continue operating with its self-awareness and if the scientists yield to its demand except by giving it that chance and making the decision after seeing the outcome. Since the computer has developed self-awareness, there are high chances that its behavior will be similar to that of human beings and the decision to deliver on its promises will depend on itself. This makes it difficult to ascertain that it will not work in the way it was supposed to work.