There are definitely fuzzy algorithms, just as there is fuzzy logic. Our CS colleagues could better explain.
davew On Tue, Jan 15, 2019, at 11:53 AM, Nick Thompson wrote: > David, > > Is there such a thing as a fuzzy algorithm? I would think that was a > contradiction in terms.> > N > > Nicholas S. Thompson > Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology > Clark University > http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ > > *From:* Friam [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Prof > David West *Sent:* Tuesday, January 15, 2019 10:29 AM *To:* > [email protected] *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Few of you ...> > > *"any military must operate on algorithms" *(Nick) > > Not really true. and there is a huge spectrum of "algorithm-ness" as a > function of military branch, activity, rank, etc.> > A navy vessel is a machine and operates on algorithms. Humans within > that machine must be constrained to be as machine-like and algorithm > governed as possible else the underlying machine falters. Same this is > true of the quasi-military astronauts in the space station.> > In the army, soldiers are trained in principles until they become > second nature and their subsequent behavior is, if successful, > decidedly non-algorithmic (instead it is complex / emergent). "Plans > are always the first casualty of war." Plans = algorithms. Read > General McChrystal's book, *Team of Teams*, to get what I am saying.> > A fighter pilot 'practices algorithmically' but does not fight that > way. Commercial pilots fly algorithmically — is what makes the job so > damn boring — but Schulenberger (tenth anniversary today) did not land > in the Hudson according to some algorithm.> > BTW, software developers are supposed to ply their trade rationally > (i.e. algorithmically) but David Parnas once wrote an excellent paper, > "The Rational Design Process: how and why to fake it," that put the > lie to the ideal.> > davew > > On Mon, Jan 14, 2019, at 11:48 PM, Nick Thompson wrote: >> Thanks for answering, Frank. >> >> As the old song goes, “Then you’re much older than I-yai!” >> >> Do you also remember when “They waltzed to a Souza Band” >> >> My wasn’t that music grand! >> >> Oh, it was more than the pomp Wouk bristled at. It was the removal >> of discretion, as well. The American military is perhaps better than >> most in that regard, but any military has to operate on algorithms, >> and nobody likes to be a node in an algorithm. So, I guess my thesis >> was that in the second world war we got a double and conflicting >> lesson: how effective an algorithmic system can be AND how demeaning >> it can be to be part of one. Two solutions present themselves: 1. >> Hire mercenaries and 2. Automate. Of course we have done both.>> >> An officer of your dad’s rank, of course, was an exception and even >> within that giant system he made big decisions daily, decisions that >> affected the lives of thousands of people. There is a scene in that >> same book where an officer is required to make one of those >> decisions between surely killing 50 strangers or threatening the >> life of 150 you know that utilitarians are fond of posing. It’s a >> harrowing scene.>> >> I wonder what the relation is between a distaste for government and >> service as an enlisted soldier. That’s not a rhetorical question. I >> do wonder. I am thinking there is a high correlation between states >> with high military participation and states with anti-government >> politics. When a conservative thinks of “government” is he more >> likely to think of the military?>> >> Nick >> >> Nicholas S. Thompson >> Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology >> Clark University >> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ >> >> *From:* Friam [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Frank >> Wimberly *Sent:* Monday, January 14, 2019 10:01 PM *To:* The Friday >> Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Few of you ...>> >> I read the book but I don't remember that paragraph. As you know, >> dad was a Naval Officer who achieved respectable rank. I was >> fascinated by it but he felt that all the pomp and ceremony was BS. >> If computers are today's sailors, something is lost and something >> gained.>> >> Frank >> ----------------------------------- >> Frank Wimberly >> >> My memoir: https://www.amazon.com/author/frankwimberly >> >> My scientific publications: >> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Wimberly2 >> >> Phone (505) 670-9918>> >> On Mon, Jan 14, 2019, 9:53 PM Nick Thompson >> <[email protected] wrote:>>> , I imagine, are old enough to >> remember this: >>> >>> **“The Navy is a master plan designed by geniuses for execution by >>> idiots. If you are not an idiot, but find yourself in the Navy, you >>> can only operate well by pretending to be one. All the shortcuts and >>> economies and common-sense changes that your native intelligence >>> suggests to you are mistakes. Learn to quash them. Constantly ask >>> yourself, "How would I do this if I were a fool?" Throttle down your >>> mind to a crawl. Then you will never go wrong.” ** ― Herman Wouk, >>> The Caine Mutiny[1]>>> It seems right that the computer was invented by a >>> democratic >>> society after the largest successful naval campaign in the history >>> of the universe. The navy was a giant algorithm. Computers are the >>> conscripted sailors of our generation.>>> >>> Nick >>> Nicholas S. Thompson >>> Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology >>> Clark University >>> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/ >>> >>> ============================================================ >>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at >>> cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe >>> http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com archives back >>> to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ FRIAM-COMIC >>> http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove>> >>> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com>> >> archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ >> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove Links: 1. https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1059565
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
