ROGER: Perhaps I am wrong, but I have a problem with the concept of artificial intelligence and hence artificial life-- at least according to my understanding of what intelligence is.
As I see it, intelligence is the ability to make choices completely on one's own. Autonomously. Thus intelligence is simply self-determination of some issue. By self-determination I don't mean free will, athough that might be a possibility.The "self" could use anything in memory, (including current perceptions or awareness) or even anything ever thought of. Darwin tells us that such choices must be mostly appropriate choices, but sometimes they might occur mistakenly, sometimes irrationally, or deceptively. That is, to lie, deception being quite common in nature. But a computer program can only make choices that the programmer previously allowed. BRENT: First, that's not true. Computer programs can learn from experience and by communication - which is they way you learn. ROGER: Very good point, I had not thought of that, so thanks, sounds like you're right. I need to ruminate on this. BRENT: Second, evolution supplied you with a brain with certain built-in routines, such as learning a language and falling love with the opposite sex. Does that deprive you of self-determination? Can you decide to be someone you aren't? Brent ROGER: Another very good point I had not thought about and you seem to be correct. So thanks again. Again, I need to think more on this. I'll put the rest in brackets and italics as they are now uncertain comments. [ ROGER: So in effect the choices are made by the computer programmer, The programmer is the puppet master.. But such a programmed "robot" cannot be conscious, for there is no self to be aware. There is only the presence of electrical signals, which are objective, but no subjectivity. . Thus one might "simulate" life, but one can never create life in a computer. Materialism has the same fatal defect, for it is completely objective, and so cannot have a self, which is subjective, to be aware. ] This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm Roger , rclo...@verizon.net 8/7/2012 Is life a cause/effect activity ? If so, what is the cause agent ? -- 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 everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
