Hey Richard,
You and I seem to have stalled out on the complexity question . . . .
I don't mean to be difficult but I'm still not sure that I'm getting the
point . . . . so let me try to recap what I think you're saying . . . .
Question 1.
Richard > The purpose of the argument
Richard > My purpose is to explain that if the task of building an
artificial intelligence involves trying to engineer a "complex system", then
we are in big trouble because all the methods currently used by AI
researchers depend on the fact that intelligent systems are not complex
systems.
OK. I have no problem with saying that most methods used depend upon
the fact that intelligent systems are not complex and that that is a
problem.
Richard > When is a system complex?
Richard > When trying to decide if a given system is complex, it is
important to be clear about some of the distinctions I made in the
definition of complexity (yesterday's post).
Richard > First, the strict definition of a complex system is that it has
some observable behavior that can only be explained by a theory that is too
large for us to discover (and possibly there is no explanation at all,
except for simulating the entire system). So the most basic criterion for
complexity is the size of the theory that "explains" the system's behavior.
I have a couple of problems here. First, your strict definition is not
the definition that I am accustomed to. I would be willing to accept your
definition *EXCEPT* that you repeatedly refer to systems that do not meet
your definition as complex. For example, the theory of gravity is *VERY*
simple. The theory perfectly explains observable behavior if you have the
necessary computing power and accuracy of initial measurements. Yet, you
insist that "if you consider the general case of an n-body system then it is
fully and completely complex." You did leave yourself an odd out by
including the phrase "except for simulating the entire system" BUT since the
theory of gravitation is THE correct explanation for an n-body system I
don't see why you believe you can maintain this definition and also claim
that an n-body system is complex.
-------------------------------------------
agi
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