Seite - 167 - in Limina - Grazer theologische Perspektiven, Band 3:2

167 | www.limina-graz.eu Frank G. Bosman | The turning of Turing’s tables issues. One question, for example, is to describe “a person” with options such as “a human being”, “a citizen”, “a rational animal”, “a being of negative entropy”, and “a problem-solving system”. During the numerous interactions later on in the game, the MLA becomes increasingly annoyed with the player’s inconsistent existential ideas and becomes increasingly vocal about its dislike of EL0HIM (who disqualifies Milton as “the ser- pent”, which is – again – a reference to Genesis). If Milton does not find any logical conflicts in the first and second part of the test (“Milton1_1.dlg”), it will put out: “No conflicts were detected dur- ing the certification process. A note was added to this account requesting future administrator review. Note: lack of conflict indicates possible bot.” Milton is a bit like the “headstrong computer” form The Turing Test (see above) in that it is virtually impossible to pass its test. The headstrong one will always believe Ava/the player is a computer, and Milton will scourge you for your human inability to think logically and consistently but ques- tion your humanity when doing so. And quite correctly so, since the child program is artificial in nature, although neither it nor the player is aware of this for a rather large part of the game. Philosophical and theological consequences In both The Talos Principle and The Turing Test, the original Turing test and its reversed version are used to engage the gamer in the narrative-cum- thought experiment on the notion of “humanity”. In both cases, a judge can be identified who can be convinced that the one with whom he or she is “interacting”, is actually a human being. Ava and TOM pass the test, since the player is unaware – although not initially – that Ava is controlled by TOM. Since they can place the responsibility of their actions upon one another indefinitely, together they are assured of passing the test. Ava is convinced of being human, while being manipulated, and TOM can manipulate Ava without being noticed doing so. And last but not least, the player, by the same logic, passes the Turing test, being judge and judged at the same time. Since the player is not aware of TOM’s manipula- tions of the player, the player self-identifies as being human instead of as being artificial. Of course, technically being manipulated by a machine does not make the manipulated one mechanical, but narratively it does. “Note: lack of conflict indicates possible bot.”