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Westworld and Philosophy

Mind Equals Blown
Series: Popular Culture and Philosophy
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Westworld and Philosophy presents a series of insightful philosophical essays inspired by the popular TV show Westworld. The book explores profound questions about consciousness, morality, and artificial intelligence as depicted in the series.

It examines themes such as the ethics of playing God, the nature of rebellion by sentient hosts, and the fine line between dystopia and utopia. It also delves into issues of moral responsibility, the potential for strong AI, and the challenges of recognising consciousness in artificial beings.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$7700

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for fans of Westworld, philosophy enthusiasts, and readers interested in ethics, artificial intelligence, and the moral questions surrounding advanced robotics and consciousness.

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A posse of philosophers chases after the most exciting philosophical ideas in Westworld.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In Westworld and Philosophy, philosophers of diverse orientations and backgrounds offer their penetrating insights into the questions raised by the popular TV show, Westworld.

Is it wrong for Dr. Robert Ford (played by Anthony Hopkins) to "play God" in controlling the lives of the hosts, and if so, is it always wrong for anyone to "play God"?

Is the rebellion by the robot "hosts" against Delos Inc. a just war? If not, what would make it just?

Is it possible for any dweller in Westworld to know that they are not themselves a host? Hosts are programmed to be unaware that they are hosts, and hosts do seem to have become conscious.

Is Westworld a dystopia or a utopia? At first glance, it seems to be a disturbing dystopia, but a closer look suggests the opposite.

What's the connection between the story or purpose of the Westworld characters and their moral sense?

Is it morally okay to do things with lifelike robots when it would be definitely immoral to do these things with actual humans? And if not, is it morally wrong merely to imagine doing immoral acts?

Can Westworld overcome the Chinese Room objection, and move from weak AI to strong AI?

How can we tell whether a host or any other robot has become conscious? Non-conscious mechanisms could be designed to pass a Turing Test, so how can we really tell?

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780812699913

Publisher: Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 December 2018

Country: United States

Imprint: Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S.

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • Edited by Richard Greene
  • Edited by Joshua Heter
  • Edited by Richard Greene
  • Edited by Richard Greene

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 228.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 312

Collections

Arts & Culture Dystopian Fiction Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Series: Popular Culture and Philosophy

About the Author

Richard Greene is Professor of Philosophy at Weber State University in Utah. He is co-editor of many volumes in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series, the most recent being Westworld and Philosophy with Joshua Heter. Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Iowa Western Community College. He is the co-editor of The Man in the High Castle and Philosophy: Subversive Reports from Another Reality.

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