Ben:but, from a practical perspective, it seems more useful to think about minds that are rougly similar to human minds, yet better adapted to existing computer hardware, and lacking humans' most severe ethical and motivational flaws
Well a) I think that we now agree that you are engaged in a basically, however loosely, humanoid endeavour (and thanks for setting out your thinking). But b) I disagree about those "flaws". My general philosophy which I keep stressing (& is perhaps v. v. loosely in parts in line with Richard's) is: yes, everywhere you look at the human system, you see what look like flaws. But, as a general principle, those "flaws" are actually great design when you understand the problems they are meant to deal with. The human mind, torn between sociocentric and egocentric urges, active and passive urges, behaving in crazy, contradictory ways, now altruistically, now egotistically, now industriously, now idly, now ascetically, now gluttonously, and absolutely riddled with guilt all the time , looks quite mad to a rational, standard, mechanistic (and soon-to-be-out-of-date) POV. But when you're dealing with a whole psychoeconomy of problematic, creative problems and activities, just as with a social economy of problems and activities, that design is ideal - it helps us survive and adapt, unlike standard machines and computers which (you may have heard), single-minded and rational as they are, can't deal with such problems or adapt at all. That kind of "flawed", divided mind - still totally alien to the thinking of both AGI and cog. sci and rational philosophy - is cool - just what you should be aiming for. Don't knock the human system until you've understood it - & you guys certainly don't understand either its emotions or its conscience. or the open-ended and conflicted nature of its drives. (Can you think of any major rational, logicomathematical thinker ever who has been noted for his psychological sensibility & sensitivity?) ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=108809214-a0d121 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
