Hi Platt --
The subject is the title of an article appearing in
the NYTimes on 3/31/09. Among many interesting
statements in the article is the following:
"We use emotions, the brain´s steersman, to assign
value to our experiences and to future possibilities, often
allowing us to evaluate potential outcomes efficiently and
rapidly when information is uncertain. In general, we bring
an extraordinary amount of background information to
bear on seemingly simple tasks, allowing us to make
inferences that are difficult for machines."
Assigning values to experience? Sounds familiar doesn't it?
I wonder if the authors have an inkling of the Pirsigian
revolution. Probably not because they assume a subject
(assigning values) to an object (experience) rather than
seeing experience/values as two sides of the same coin.
They also assume the equation: Brain = Mind, which is the fallacy of
scientific objectivism. It takes more than a brain and neural synapses to
create conscious awareness. Consciousness is the agent of Value, not an
electro-mechnical device that can calculate and indicate decisions. The
conscious self is what realizes Value in terms of its wants and desires.
I like Jeffry Werbok's follow-up comment to this article:
"Although it is possible to program a computer to emulate activity that
appears to us as if it 'wants' something, in fact a computer does not,
cannot want anything. Only living beings want, and regardless of all the
technical issues, a machine has no desires, and cannot be made to have any
desires, a feature of the universe found only in living beings.
"A computer can be programmed to appear to want, to fear, to dream, to hope,
to aspire, but it is not real. Matrix fans can argue all they like that we
are such programmed machines that only imagine that we are self driven
beings with independent desires, but it isn't real. Humans dream, imagine,
conjure, and wish. These features of life are inherent in the nature of the
unique energies we are made of."
But thanks for the link, Platt. It's an interesting and well-written piece,
for those of the objectivist persuasuion.
Regards,
Ham
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