Introduction: Are We Spiritual Machines? By George Gilder and Jay W. Richards
Two philosophers, a biologist, and an evolutionary theorist critique Ray Kurzweil's prediction that computers will attain a level of intelligence beyond human capabilities, and at least apparent consciousness. Kurzweil responds to these critics of "strong AI." (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 1: The Evolution of Mind in the Twenty-First Century By Ray Kurzweil
An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense "intuitive linear" view. So we won't experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century -- it will be approximately 20,000 years of progress (at today's rate). The "returns," such as chip speed and cost-effectiveness, also increase exponentially. There's even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. This exponential growth is not restricted to hardware, but with accelerating gains in brain reverse engineering, also applies to software. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, allowing nonbiological intelligence to combine the subtleties of human intelligence with the speed and knowledge sharing ability of machines. The results will include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, downloading the brain and immortal software-based humans -- the next step in evolution. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 2: I Married a Computer By John Searle
John Searle challenges Ray Kurzweil's predictions, such as downloading our minds onto hardware, nanotech-enhanced new bodies, evolution without DNA, virtual sex, personal immortality, and conscious computers. He uses his famous "Chinese Room" argument to show how machines cannot really understand human language or be conscious. Searle's conclusion is that Kurzweil's ideas on "strong AI" are based on "conceptual confusions." (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 3: Organism and Machine By Michael Denton
Michael Denton asserts that the most basic vital characteristics of organisms, such as self-replication, morphing, self-regeneration, self-assembly and the holistic nature of biological design, cannot be achieved with machines. If this is the case, then how will consciousness ever be instantiated in a "spiritual machine"?, asks Denton. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 4: Kurzweil’s Impoverished Spirituality By William A. Dembski
Ray Kurzweil's notion of "spiritual machines" capable of consciousness reduces the richness of the real world and spirituality to computational absurdity, says Prof. William Dembski. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 5: Kurzweil's Turing Fallacy By Thomas Ray
Reverse-engineering the human brain is doomed to failure because of the "Turing fallacy" -- a nonbiological computation system could never precisely copy the complex neural, structural, and chemical functions of a brain or achieve the required level of reliability, says Thomas Ray, who proposes evolution of "non-Turing" AIs as an alternative (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 6: Locked in His Chinese Room By Ray Kurzweil
In this detailed response to John Searle's "Chinese Room" argument, Ray Kurzweil argues that Searle's reasoning is based on the naďve, unrealistic premise that nonbiological entities can only manipulate logical syntax, whereas the current trend is toward emergent self-organizing chaotic systems based on pattern recognition, biologically inspired massively parallel methods, and reverse-engineering the brain. According to Kurzweil, Searle's belief that consciousness requires a neurobiological substrate is equally unsupported. "We will meet [nonbiological] entities in several decades that at least convincingly claim to be conscious," he concludes. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 7: Applying Organic Design Principles to Machines is Not an Analogy But a Sound Strategy By Ray Kurzweil
Countering Michael Denton's vitalist objection that self-organizing, self-replicating, morphing, holistic forms can only be created by biological processes and that machines are necessarily deterministic and predictable, Ray Kurzweil points out that software-based, self-organizing, chaotic processes (such as genetic algorithms) can exhibit unpredictable, emergent properties and create complex original designs. Furthermore, the complexity of this "evolutionary engineering" is increasing exponentially and will match the complexity of human intelligence in a few decades, he adds. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 8: Dembski’s Outdated Understanding By Ray Kurzweil
William Dembski's concept of machines is based on simple-minded 19th century automata, says Kurzweil. Future biologically inspired machines will be of such great complexity and richness of organization that their behavior will evidence the intelligence and emotionally rich reactions of humans. The key is in persistent patterns, not the material substrate. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 9: What Turing Fallacy? By Ray Kurzweil
Countering Thomas Ray's objections, Ray Kurzweil points out significant progress in modeling neural and neurochemical processes and the innate ability of biologically inspired self-organizing systems to realistically emulate natural processes, including, ultimately, human intelligence. In brain reverse engineering, according to Kurzweil, "we are approximately where we were in the genome project about ten years ago." to relinquish broad areas in the pursuit of knowledge. (Added June 18th 2002)

Chapter 10: The Material World: “Is That All There Is?” By Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil rejects the "materialist" label, saying he is a "patternist" and pointing out the emergent, transcendent power of patterns in contrast to dualistic interpretations. Kurzweil also counters Bill Joy's "unrealistic" call to relinquish broad areas in the pursuit of knowledge. (Added June 18th 2002)