1. 서론

2. 철학적 관점

3. 불교적 관점

4. 인지과학적 관점

5. 결론: AI는 자의식을 가질 수 있는가?

This paper explores the possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) achieving self-consciousness from philosophical, Buddhist, and cognitive-scientific perspectives. It begins by examining the views of Descartes, Spinoza, Hume, and Kant, and then addresses the contemporary debate between functionalist and phenomenological approaches. Drawing on Buddhist notions of non-self (anātman) and Yogācāra’ concept of manas consciousness, it proposes viewing self-consciousness as a dynamic process rather than a fixed entity. Cognitive science underscores the importance of complex neural networks and metacognition in generating self-awareness, suggestingpartial replicability in AI systems. However, some argue that ‘phenomenal self-consciousness’nthe subjective “what it is like”nresists mere computational reduction. Synthesizing these perspectives, the paper concludes that while AI may attain a metacognitive, “functional self-consciousness,” the realizationof deep subjective awareness remains uncertain. Emphasizing the Buddhist insight that self-consciousness is neither static nor essential, it also raises ethical and philosophical questions about how human identity might be redefined should AI become truly self-aware.