Abstract
Intelligent systems can exhibit the desire to accomplish a goal in several ways. Instinctual desire is an emergent property of physical form and programmed behavior. Emotional desire exists if a creature possesses subjective sensors that indicate whether situations are good or bad, and uses these as a guide to modify its own behavior toward increased benefit and decreased harm. Conscious desire can occur if a system has a model of how its actions affect the environment and can simulate the benefit or harm of possible consequences before acting. I describe the logical data structures and processes required to create a simple system of emotional desire.
Chris Broski