Are computers alive?

Question

I understand that computers don't make decisions on a human level.

However, they do performs tasks and use energy in much the same way as simple lifeforms do. They are given their programming and then when in operation, they perform their programming. It's the same as when singled cell organisms do what their DNA tells them to do.

The only difference would be replication and survival. Computers aren't programmed to ensure their survival. If they were, wouldn't they be alive in some sense?

Answer 1

Hi this question demanded to be answered in as much detail as possible so here goes, answer is too long :), hope this helps

The question isn't as simple as it seems. We do manufacture the hardware, but much of this process is automated. So when we say "we manufacture", we mean we do some of the processes and leg work needed to manufacture computers, but most of the complexity is handled by automated systems (i.e. computers). The software manages the masks laid out in the processor, that builds the memory devices, guides wafers through the system.

The software actually sets up the OS, the applications, the preferences, the screen savers. In fact, while it seems that “we install” software, all we really do is just provide a few prompts. Even in very complicated installs, the number of values and files installed by the software vastly dwarfs the parameters supplied by the person doing the installation.

So if a computer can be said to “build itself” then it does so using a huge number of processes and components already built for it.

But do we build ourselves? Or do we use a huge number of processes and components supplied to us? In fact, we do do rely on a vast set of supplied parts! We eat other orgamisms and use the building blocks they provide (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and build our selves from that.

If we rely on "manufactured parts" from sources outside ourselves, and computers rely on "manufactured parts" outside themselves, then the difference isn't absolute, but just a matter of degree. If we are alive and require all this outside help to construct and maintain ourselves, can we say computers are not alive because they too need outside help to construct and maintain themselves?

Do computers replicate? Of course they do. The "genes" of a computer system is its software. And software exists as installation files, CDs, disks... We select and install the various software components we want. We don't build applications from the ground up for each computer. Instead, we build one application, build an install file or disk, and then we replicate that.

We take the mix of software we want in a system and we install all of those pieces. And a computer is “born!”

Like "genes" in life, we see different software installed on different systems. As a result, you get different behaviors in different systems. If a "gene" (i.e. an application) is really, really advantagous, it gets replicated more often. If a "gene" is really, really useless, it does not get replicated, and it "dies out".

Do all computers replicate? No. Most just do their job. Does that make them not alive? Well most ants don’t replicate either. Only the queen and a few drones replicate. If ants are alive, than all we need to find is a few computers that replicate to consider them alive. And in fact only a few specialized computers manufacture computers, and only a few developer machines generate new software.


Living things evolve. Do computers evolve? Well of course they do! Evolution proceeds by mutation. We don’t invalidate any mutation because of the cause. In other words, just because people manipulate the genes of some organisms doesn’t make the resulting organism un-alive. The fact that people manipulate the “genes” of computers by programming, doesn’t mean they don’t change. Evolve means change, after all. It doesn’t mean “only random change”. Mutation is a difference from one version of a gene in the next generation version of the gene. We don’t write software fresh with every build of an application. We simply introduce change after change, testing at each step, and selecting the changes to keep and which to toss.

If we assume that evolution can be a guided process, then the fact that we are active in the evolution of computers doesn’t make them un-alive.

If we ever come around to acknowledging software systems as being a form of life, it will be an amazing thing. To have something take over our culture, our economy, our lives, and not even know it is really alive....

Answer 2

even if the argument of a working laptop or workstation software being alive is a growing to be concern, a software isn't alive. a working laptop or workstation software is a set of instructions that are given for a purpose. a working laptop or computer virus is a software that "infects" different .exe's and could become area of that .exe and interior the approach replicates itself. The virus basically exists interior contaminated executables, subsequently that’s why its called an endemic. that's additionally the comparable as organic and organic viruses which needs a bunch to proceed to exist... purely the comparable as a working laptop or computer virus subsequently that’s the place the call comes from. you're able to ask the question, is a working laptop or computer virus man made existence? using fact it fairly is under no circumstances existence in any organic and organic scene. i might agree they seem to be a sort of guy-made existence, yet computer virus’s at the instant are not ALIVE using fact they have not have been given any scene of what they're doing or why, they do exactly the failings they do using fact they have been informed to. issues that are alive have a SCENCE of why they do issues and could exchange or (have a decision) on what they do.

Answer 3

Well computers are also a lot more refined and precisely designed than any actual lifeform. Organic life is an incredibly sloppy affair, our bodies and brains are exceptionally inefficient resource hogs, our bodies are sustained through messy liquid conveyance, and so on.

Computers aren't alive because they lack that intangible and known energy that separates living things from dead things. However if they were alive, they would certainly take over as they're more efficient than organic life.

Answer 4

Is your Car alive? Is the Microwave Oven alive? Is an airplane alive? Is your watch alive?

They all perform tasks and use energy in much the same way as simple life forms do (quoted from you). And they don’t make decisions, and they don't replicate for survival.

Are those things alive?

It all comes down to determine what is to be "alive", and then apply it to everything that surrounds us. That’s all.

Answer 5

I understand that computers don't make decisions it is the human who makes the decisions the working of a computer is control by your self .. who knows maybe 1 day bill gates will come up with a windows os that puts the computer on for you and works by its self
lol

Answer 6

No they are not alive. They are unable to make decision by themselves without a set of instructions being programmed into them. If my computer did not have software in it, it would just be a collection of electronics.

Answer 7

Listening to too much Coast to Coast on the radio! Booooo!

Answer 8

Looks like someone's been watching Short Circuit ; )

Answer 9

No. In order for them to be alive they must also be able to reproduce and evolve.

Answer 10

mabyee they will be able to do more complex tasks in the future.