Re: >H Spiritual computers

[Mark <zebra@alltel.net>]

Transhuman Mailing List

Phil  writes:
> Transhuman Mailing List
> 
> > The Turing test is more important as a philosophical claim than as a test.
> > It asserts that intelligence is defined operationally, not in reference
> > to a soul or the innate properties of the matter involved.
> 
__________________________________________________________


Jsn@concentric.net wrote:

> Hooey.
> 
> I don't define a symphonic recording to be a real symphony playing,
> simply because I can't tell the difference when I close my eyes.
> 
> I don't define a television screen to be a real event, just because
> the resolution is so high that I can't distinguish it from reality,
> except for the fact that it's in a television screen.
> 
> Why are we to define intelligence (or worse, self-awareness) simply on
> the basis of whether or not we can tell the difference?  This isn't a
> philosophical claim, it's a blatant admission that we haven't the
> foggiest notion what constitutes intelligence (or self-awareness) so
> we'll fall back on the comforts of illusion.
> 
> This particular emperor has no clues.
> 
> Think it's semantics, or unimportant?  I don't.
> 
> I don't want to be tricked into giving human rights to a glorified
> version of Eliza-- I believe the award of rights to an object which
> does not deserve them is foolish, wasteful, and ultimately trivializes
> my rights.  Conversely, I don't want to deny rights to hypothetical
> intelligent and aware machine because we're shackled to the illusion
> of the Turing Test.
> 
> --
> John S. Novak, III           jsn@cris.com
> The Humblest Man on the Net

__________________________________________________________

Phil and Mr. Novak:

I can tell that the raging philosophical debates of the future are going
to be over my head.  Mr. Novak, your statement  " Conversely, I don't
want to deny rights to hypothetical intelligent and aware machine
because we're shackled to the illusion of the Turing Test."  as posted
above is something to think about.   

Scientist are now working to assemble inorganic molecules to create life
in the laboratory.  I found this article posted on the Philadelphia
Inquirer web site.  Listed below is the URL.  I hope the article is
still posted.

http://www.phillynews.com:80/programs/aprint

Mark
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