What if man were 'just' some kind of a machine?

“Recently I was with a group of mathematicians and philosophers. One philosopher asked me whether I believed man was a machine. I replied, ‘Do you really think it makes any difference?’ He most earnestly replied, ‘Of course! To me it is the most important question in philosophy.’ 

    "I had the following afterthoughts: I imagine that if my friend had finally come to the conclusion that he were a machine, he would be infinitely crestfallen. I think he would think: ‘My God! How horrible! I am only a machine!’ But if I should find out I were a machine, my attitude would be totally different. I would say: ‘How amazing! I never before realised that machines could be so marvellous!’”

    ~ Raymond Smullyan from his book This Book Needs No Title. Hat tip Stephen Hicks, who reckons this to be his favourite response on the issue of 'physicalism' and human dignity.