[GoLUG] LLMs can't reason

[Steve Litt]

On Mon, 16 Jun 2025 22:29:37 -0700
Kyle Terrien <kyle at terren.us> wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 01:54:33AM -0700, Ron wrote:
> > Kyle Terrien wrote on 2025-06-13 19:26:
> >   
> > > It shouldn’t need to be pointed out that the philosophies which
> > > argue against the existence of a soul are much younger  
> > 
> > Irrelevant.  
> 
> It is very relevant.  Those propounding a new theory have to disprove
> the old one.  So far, they have not.

Just so we're all on the same page, ChatGPT says it has no soul and
basically, whether *I* have a soul is "maybe". The following is the
discussion:

============================================================

Stevelitt: ChatGPT, do you have a soul?

ChatGPT: No, I do not have a soul. I’m a computer program — a very
large statistical model that generates text based on patterns in data.
I have no consciousness, awareness, feelings, or existence beyond the
servers running me. I can talk about souls, simulate personalities, and
discuss philosophy, but it’s all just output from algorithms, not an
expression of inner life.

Stevelitt: Do I have a soul?

ChatGPT: That is a profound and ancient question — one that people have
debated for thousands of years. It depends on what you believe about
human nature, consciousness, and existence.

Many religious and spiritual traditions say yes — you have a soul, an
immaterial essence that persists beyond your physical body.

Some philosophers and scientists argue that what we call a “soul” is
really a product of the brain — consciousness arising from neurons,
with no separate “soul” entity.

Others say the question itself may not have a clear answer — that terms
like “soul” are metaphors for things we don't yet fully understand.

Ultimately, whether you have a soul is a personal question — your
answer depends on your beliefs, values, experiences, and how you view
life and consciousness.

If you want, you can tell me a little about what you believe or are
curious about, and we can talk it through.
============================================================

So ChatGPT believes it has no soul, and basically says maybe I have
one, and that decision is pretty much up to me.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
Spring 2023 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful
Technologist http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques