Question

In your opinion, does descartes second very certian test distinguish humans from machines? or is it insufficiant?

Answer 1

Descartes used two conditions to distinguish man from machines which were, the use of language, and the general abilities of reasoning.

For Descrates machines may have certain ability to express in language, but has limitations as it can use language only to a certain limit to which it has programmed by it's creator. Whereas, man can use language in it's most abstract form across all situations of life.

The second condition of Descartes is the general mental abilities of reasoning, though machines may have reasoning abilities and it can be of higher level of intelligence, but it cannot apply this intelligence to different situations of life as humans can. This limits the intelligence of machines as human beings can use their reasoning abilities for all the situations that they face.

Descartes arguments are strong arguments and relevant, as today's artificial intelligence are highly sophisticated and able, but what limits it is that it lacks flexibility. It cannot think for solutions as humans minds for the unique life situations that each individual faces. Thus, Descartes arguments very well distinguishes human from machines.