Brent Meeker writes: > Stathis Papaioannou wrote: > > Peter Jones writes (quoting SP): > > > > > >>> The constraints (a) and (b) you mention are ad hoc and an > >>> unnecessary complication. Suppose Klingon computers change their > >>> internal code every clock cycle according to the well-documented > >>> radioactive decay pattern of a sacred stone 2000 years ago. If we > >>> got our hands on one of these computers and monitored its > >>> internal states it would seem completely random; but if we had > >>> the Klingon manual, we would see that the computer was actually > >>> multiplying two numbers, or implementing a Klingon AI, or > >>> whatever. Would you say that these computations were not valid > >>> because it's a dumb way to design a computer? > >> > >> I'd say that a defintion of "computer" that applies to everything > >> is useless. > > > > > > I agree, it's completely useless to *us* because we couldn't interact > > with it. That would be the end of the matter unless we say that > > computation can lead to consciousness, creating as it were its own > > observer. Are you prepared to argue that the aforementioned Klingon > > AI suddenly stops being conscious when the last copy of the manual > > which would allow us to interact with it is destroyed? > > If it's intelligent we should be able to interact with it without a manual.
I should have specified, there is no input or output device connected. With a "normal" computer we might look for patterns in its internal states and design drivers for a keyboard and monitor, but with this computer its internal states are apparently completely random unless you have the original design specifications. Stathis Papaioannou _________________________________________________________________ Be one of the first to try Windows Live Mail. http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?versionId=5d21c51a-b161-4314-9b0e-4911fb2b2e6d --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---