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C00002 00002	consci[w85,jmc]		If consciousness didn't exist, we'd have to invent it.
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consci[w85,jmc]		If consciousness didn't exist, we'd have to invent it.

	We argue that something so like consciousness that we might
as well call it consciousness is required for intelligent behavior.
The arguments against the importance of consciousness by some
psychologists fail to take into account certain requirements
for success in living among humans.  If robots are to function
successfully they will also require consciousness.

	We take a knowledge level view of a human or robot, i.e.
we analyze its mental state as the acceptance of a collection
of propositions.  Admittedly this is controversial, and we are
on one side of that controversy, but we won't argue it here.

	The required consciousness has at least the following
components.

	1. The identification of the body as a material object.
Propositions about the behavior of material objects in general
are believed, and so are propositions about specific objects.
One of these objects is the body.  Its identification as a
material object allows inference from the general properties
of external material objects to properties of the body and
vice versa.

	2. Beliefs about wants, intentions, purposes,
beliefs and knowledge.  There are beliefs about how goals,
both physical and intellectual, may be achieved.  The same
internal language is used for describing the organism's own
mental qualities as are used for those of other organisms.
This enables predictions about the behavior of others and
permits learning from the experience of others.

	3. There is also direct observation of one's own
mental state.  This is perhaps the core of the philosopher's
idea of consciousness.  It is required in order to learn
from one's own experience.