Response to Guide Questions for pgs. 57-99 in Searle’s, Minds, Brains and Science

 

1.      Is there a relationship between action and moral behavior?

 

I believe that there is a relationship between action and moral behavior according to Searle because a moral behavior is the effect of an action.  An action consists of a stimulation of the mind like and idea to desire some sort of outcome and therefore, determines to perform what it takes to get the desired outcome.  When the muscles contract and the nerves stimulate movement, in turn attempts to achieve the behavior, which can be moral if it meets certain criteria. I also believe that this process can be immoral if the behavior is not accepted to be moral.

 

2. What is the purpose of the eight principles offered by Searle?

 

Searle uses the eight principles to explain how and in what sense behavior both contains and is caused by internal mental states.

 

3. State your idea of what the social sciences are.  What does Searle observe about the social sciences?

 

I believe that social sciences are the manner in which a person behaves in a given social environment.  These actions, decisions, and behaviors are completely independent on any sort of laws that are impossible to construct based on social science.  For instance, if someone were to vote on laws, and other related topics what they voted for is completely unexplainable according to social science, the connections made are so loosely made that there is room for exceptions and therefore, may be explained using the natural sciences.

 

4. Do Searle’s observations about the social sciences challenge conventional ideas about their role in society?

 

I don’t feel that what Searle is saying about the social sciences challenges conventional ideas about their role in society because Searle is saying that a societal behavior is largely determined by the psychological attitude that people take.  This means that the existence of something is determined by what people think that something is which leaves the option infinite.  I think that there is a genera consensus of social science but everyone does not necessarily see it as being definite.

 

5. What is “common sense” the way Searle uses the term?

 

Searle uses the term “commonsense” to mean that people share a general conception of themselves that seems to be consistent with our conception of nature.  We do this based on observation, feeling and our knowledge of how the universe works.  

 

6. Try to tease out the relationship between and among the ideas of:  artificial intelligence; action; free will; moral action.

 

I feel that the relationship of action; freewill; and moral action seem to be connect to the relationship of artificial intelligence because A.T. is the possibility the a learning computer can have the capability of the human brain and if the human brain is capable of action then artificial intelligence (if possible) is also capable of action as is also the case with freewill and moral action.  The programming of the machine would have to allow it to be able to stimulate an action in thought and in physical movement whether it fails in one or the other.  It would also be able to assert an element of free will that enables it to do something that is determined but still allows for an element of change.