On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 9:10 PM, J. Andrew Rogers < [email protected]> wrote:
> > On Dec 19, 2008, at 5:35 PM, Ben Goertzel wrote: > >> The problem is that **there is no way for science to ever establish the >> existence of a nonalgorithmic process**, because science deals only with >> finite sets of finite-precision measurements. >> > > > I suppose it would be more accurate to state that every process we can > detect is algorithmic within the scope of our ability to measure it. Like > with belief in god(s) and similar, the point can then be raised as to why we > need to invent non-algorithmic processes when ordinary algorithmic processes > are sufficient to explain everything we see. Because some folks find that they are not subjectively sufficient to explain everything they subjectively experience... > Non-algorithmic processes very conveniently have properties identical to > the "supernatural", and so I treat them similarly. This is just another > incarnation of the old "unpredictable versus random" discussions. > > Sure, non-algorithmic processes could be running the mind machinery, but > then so could elves, unicorns, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and many other > things that it is not necessary to invoke at this time. Absent the ability > to ever detect such things and lacking the necessity of such explanations, I > file non-algorithmic processes with vast number of other explanatory memes > of woo-ness of which humans are fond. > > Like the old man once said, "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter > necessitatem". > > > Cheers, > > J. Andrew Rogers > > > > ------------------------------------------- > 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/?&; > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com > -- Ben Goertzel, PhD CEO, Novamente LLC and Biomind LLC Director of Research, SIAI [email protected] "I intend to live forever, or die trying." -- Groucho Marx ------------------------------------------- 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=123753653-47f84b Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
