As a long time computer professional, I take exception to your view of Math, although Mike's view of Math is obviously incorrect.
I think Computer Science has many concepts that are particular to it, rather than to Math and that looking at code from a "Math" point of view rather than a "systems" or CS view isn't helpful. I have no problem with Math problems being programmed on computers but that doesn't mean that programming computers is Math. If you think I am slipping hairs by this complaint, I had a world renowned Math professor for a partner for 10 years and my opinion is based on a lot of firsthand knowledge. Math has it's place and if it helps you to work out details, then use it. If you believe that CS is just a side show of Mathematics then you won't be able to conceive of the kind of software that you otherwise could. A Math view of programming is a constraining view while a CS view that includes Math where applicable is significantly better. I agree that Mike's view isn't very rigorous and it has nothing to do with CS either but that doesn't mean that what I call CS is any less rigorous than a Mathematical view. I have worked on micro computer program development for almost 40 years and I have rarely used any of the Math knowledge that I have. If I said I could define anything in English, would that mean that all communication is or should be in English? Does the ability to describe something in a language (Math in this case) mean that the thing becomes the language? In the language I am currently finishing, I don't define how it works by using Math (even though I think I define it rather exactly) but I am sure that somebody else could. Does that mean my language is Math? David Clark PS "But these ideas will inevitably have mathematical formulations, else they can't be implemented on any known or envisioned computers." This is the line I am finding fault with. My experience tells me it is categorically not true and I believe it demeans all the CS specialists out there. -----Original Message----- From: Ben Goertzel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: January-06-13 9:24 AM To: AGI Subject: Re: [agi] Why Logic & Maths Have Sweet FA to do with Real world reasoning On Sun, Jan 6, 2013 at 5:36 AM, Mike Tintner <[email protected]> wrote: > > What's the point of this except to avoid having to think about a new idea? The point of that post was to clearly state that "Math is irrelevant to AGI" implies "All known or currently envisioned digital, analog or quantum computers are irrelevant to AGI" since any program on any of these computers has a mathematical formulation; and furthermore math is the tool used to design these computers and the operating systems languages that operate on them, etc. New ideas regarding how to program computers to yield AGI would be interesting to hear. But these ideas will inevitably have mathematical formulations, else they can't be implemented on any known or envisioned computers. You may choose to describe them non-mathematically due to your own specific taste and background; but this may then make your ideas harder for those of us with scientific/technical background to understand... .. ben g ------------------------------------------- AGI Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/21088071-f452e424 Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=21088071&id_secret=21088071-58d57657 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
