Re: MD Debating Intellect MoQ-Wise

From: Scott Roberts (jse885@cox.net)
Date: Sat Sep 03 2005 - 21:55:45 BST

  • Next message: mark maxwell: "Re: MD Debating Intellect MoQ-Wise"

    Mark M,

    Mark 2-9-05:
    I would suggest that the total repertoire of symbols
    is static while DQ evolves the whole repertoire all
    the time. The repertoire includes memories, books, the
    Internet, etc.

    Scott asked:
    Why not call the evolving of the symbolic reportoire
    intellect?

    Mark 3-9-03:
    Because it is static.

    Scott:
    I see. Because Pirsig has decreed that intellect is static, the word
    'intellect' cannot be used to describe the creation of intellectual
    patterns. Seems a bit high-handed to me, but I guess Pirsig has spoken, and
    that settles it.

    Scott said:
    Don't we say Einstein employed intellect to come up
    with his theories, that we employ intellect to write
    these posts? Otherwise, we might as well deny all
    freedom and responsibility to human beings.

    Mark 3-9-03:
    I would say Einstein's intellect utilised his
    contemporary repertiore.

    Scott:
    But he didn't add to the reportoire?

    Scott said:
    Algorithms within AI are mechanical (like all
    algorithms), and as such are the diametric opposite of
    intellectual activity.

    Mark 2-9-05:
    Algorithms manipulate symbols.

    Scott:
    No. People manipulate some symbols with the help of algorithms.

    Mark 2-9-05:
    One thing is clear: Computers manipulate symbolic
    representaions.

    Scott:
    A symbol consists of both a represented and a representation. With a
    computer we can translate a symbol's representation into bits, and it is
    reasonable to say that a computer manipulates those bits algorithmically.
    But the computer has no awareness of the represented. Intellect does. So
    while it makes sense to say that computers manipulate the representations of
    symbols, it is people who manipulate symbols, sometimes with the aid of a
    computer, and it makes no sense, in this context (debating intellect), to
    say that a computer manipulates symbols.

    - Scott

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