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This is only using the mind as a metaphor for intelligence, however, which would again be a problem for James and would also be a problem from an ontological perspective. In order to consider whether or not Watson has a mind, and indeed whether or not any computer could ever have a mind, a consideration of Gilbert Ryle's thoughts concerning the nature of the mind is very much needed. Ryle asserts that the misunderstanding of the split between the mind and the body that has been a philosophical problem since at least the time of Rene Descartes arises because people misunderstand the nature of the mind by equating it with the body. Though the body is part of what Ryle calls the "deterministic system" of the world and though people have tried to explain the mind using the same deterministic system, what is meant by "mind" in this sense has nothing to do with the physical and deterministic world an operates in a completely different manner that cannot be explained in the same terms as something deterministic. Asking how the mind works invites many problems in meaningful explanation.
Asking whether or not Watson has a mind or whether or not any computer could have a mind is also fraught with many problems, first because the practical ddefintion of a 'mind" and the difference of having a mind or not having a mind would need to be defined according to James, and second because the non-physical mind that is the interesting aspect of Watson (if it exists for Watson) cannot be explained or understood in physical and deterministic terms, according to Ryle. Ryle's argument touches on both epistemology...
It could be argued that Watson's "mind" must be purely physical, as it was constructed out of physical materials and operates according to very specific physical and deterministic laws, and this would mean that it is not really of the same substance of the "mind" as Ryle insists "mind" is meant in discussions of mind-body duality. It could also be argued, though maybe less strongly, that the physical parts of the brain or a computer might make it possible for thoughts to exist but that the thoughts themselves still exist in a separate and entirely different manner than the physical thinking apparatus, and if this were the case it would be as impossible to know if Watson has a mind as it would to be able to tell if another human being actually had a mind of their own.
Conclusion
Technology continues to push the boundaries not only of human knowledge but also of human questions. While the issues of mind-body duality and of what can be known to be true have been part of philosophical discussions for centuries, it is only in the current era of advanced computers that these questions begin to have direct practical and even ethical relevance in the human world. The truth might still not be entirely known, but seeking it is more imrpotant than ever.
His assistance and support was both scientifically sound and, more importantly, spiritually supportive and extremely respectful of and responsive to my philosophical beliefs and my personal psychological orientation and inclination. Based substantially on his valuable input, I made the decision to transfer my father to hospice. The hospice doctor also demonstrated carative nursing in his sensitive response to my sister's concerns that placing our father in hospice and directing that
Caring nurses must also be non-judgmental. They cannot allow their personal beliefs or biases influence the quality of care that they give to their patients. They should not treat a mob boss any differently than they would treat a nun. Everyone should be seen as an individual that has needs that the nurse has to meet. People of different religions, cultural backgrounds or lifestyles all deserve to be given the
Watson's Theory Of Nursing Florence Nightingale taught us that nursing theories describe and explain what is, and what is not, nursing" (Parker, 2001, p 4). In nursing today, the need for such clarity and guidance is perhaps more important than at any time in the past. As nursing continues to strive for acceptance of its right to be regarded as a profession, and seeks to expand and develop the bank of
Jean Watson and in reality "belonging becomes an ethic in itself and guides how we sustain our being in the world." Dr. Watson emphasizes the fact that the practices of nursing have experienced evolution and this has allowed certain distortions in the nursing practices. Dr. Watson brings to attention 'Palmer's epistemology as ethics' yet the epistemology, in the view of Palmer to be 'informed by cosmology' has great power
Watson Human Care Theory The Significance of Watson Human Care Theory in handling dying patients It is imperative to integrate a psychosocial treatment strategy in handling dying patients. This is based on the knowledge that dying patients could have lost hope leading to depreciation of an illness. In any case, most of the acute illnesses could have been contained at the primary stage of development. Healing or ailing is primarily managed by
, 2007). The nurses at the medical-surgical, trauma, neurological, cardiovascular, cardiology and transplant sections directly and personally confront the various needs of families of the death of a loved one. One nursing author, Jane Felgen, set forth the usefulness of a grieving cart to respond to the needs of grieving families in her article, "A Caring and Healing Environment." Many nursing authors have written about the healing environment based on