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Perhaps a starting point should be the "minds" of
lower organisms such as the hydra where cells communicate with each other for
some coordinated activity but without a central control. Although that
sounds machine-like, they still must adapt, reproduce with preservation of their
genetic code and therefore have the inherent tendancy as a species to
evolve. Besides who can say they do not think and even have aspirations to
become a fish one day.
Then consider replicating perhaps the nematode
Caenorhabititis elegans that does have a simple nervous system with central
control or brain. (Do they aspire to be earthworms?).
Now that could raise the question what is the
difference between a brain and having a mind. Central control over
autonomic reflex vs. planned or fore-thought and action.
Definitions of mind on the Web:
- that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the
faculty of reason; "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my
head"
- recall or remembrance; "it came to mind"
- be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by; "I don't
mind your behavior"
- be concerned with or about something or somebody
- judgment: an opinion formed by judging something; "he was reluctant to
make his judgment known"; "she changed her mind"
- thinker: an important intellectual; "the great minds of the 17th century"
- take care: be in charge of or deal with; "She takes care of all the
necessary arrangements"
- attention; "don't pay him any mind"
- heed: pay close attention to; give heed to; "Heed the advice of the old
men"
- your intention; what you intend to do; "he had in mind to see his old
teacher"; "the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces"
- beware: be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to; "Beware
of telephone salesmen"
- knowledge and intellectual ability; "he reads to improve his mind"; "he
has a keen intellect"
- keep in mind
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
- The mind is the term most commonly used to describe the higher functions
of the human brain, particularly those of which humans are subjectively
conscious, such as personality, thought, reason, memory, intelligence and
emotion. Although other species of animals share some of these mental
capacities, the term is usually used only in relation to humans. It is also
used in relation to postulated supernatural beings to which human-like
qualities are ascribed, as in the _expression_ "the mind of God."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind
Lou
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:53
AM
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] computer models of
the mind
Not strictly true I think. Sure, Linux can't run without a PC but does that mean it can't
exist without one? Linux started its
existence in Torvalds' head before it appeared on a CPU and if all CPUs
vanished tomorrow it would still exist in his and other experts heads.
Similarly, who says I can't have a mind without a body? Won't it carry
on existing in the mind of the Intelligent Designer?
Robert
On 7/19/06, Carlos
Gershenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
Minds do not, in our common talk, have arms, legs, mouths, eyes,
etc.,
Yes, but you cannot have a (human) mind without a
body.
In a similar way, you cannot have e.g. Linux running without a
PC,
and Linux doesn't have a CPU, HD, RAM, etc...
This has lead
people to either aim at real world robotics as the only
way forward in
AI, or at developing inside the computer complex
bodies and
environments...
Best regards,
Carlos
Gershenson...
Centrum Leo Apostel, Vrije
Universiteit Brussel
Krijgskundestraat 33.
B-1160 Brussels, Belgium
http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~cgershen/
"To know your limits you need to go beyond them"
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