Can intelligence be bodiless?
Pio Alfredo Di Tore
From the neuroscientific perspective, the understanding of human knowledge is deeply rooted in our sensory-motor system. Our body is an essential bridge between us and the surrounding world, enabling us to perceive, act, and interact with the environment that envelops us. The human nervous system is organised to manage these ever-evolving interactions, thus shaping our intelligence. In this context, the body represents an integral part of the cognitive process and learning, a fundamental pathway through which we construct our knowledge of the world. On the other hand, the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) introduces a distinct paradigm, suggesting the concept of intelligence devoid of a physical body. In this context, an AI system is conceived as software capable of processing information and making decisions but lacking a physical manifestation in the real world. This perspective raises fundamental questions about the very nature of intelligence and its relationship with the human body. How can we conceive of intelligence outside of corporeal embodiment when human intelligence is so intimately linked to bodily experience? In this essay, we delve into the intricate relationship between intelligence and the body, exploring the possibility of intelligence without a body yet intrinsically interwoven with corporeal experience and interaction with the physical world.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, Embodied Cognition, Autopoiesis, Cognitive Paradigm, Body.
