From: joedees@bellsouth.net
Date: Sun 03 Nov 2002 - 22:40:44 GMT
> >>If we came upon a computer and couldn't access its insides without
> >>destroying it, could you prove that a program was running it?
> >
> >But, of course, this collection of pieces we now have is not the
> >computer. And yes, it is a simple process to identify the program
> >running in an intact computer, or the fact there is no program
> >running.
> >
> >By analyzing its performance....
> >
> If it's such a simple process, why don't you tell us exactly how you
> would do it? If it is running, what is running it?
>
> I beg to differ on the idea that the human body is not a computer.
> Each cell in our body carries out a program contained in the DNA of
> that cell. The brain itself is organized to handle incoming
> information based on the structure of the body and the brain. Where
> do you draw the line between what is a program and what is not?
>
> You refuse to agree that analysis of the human performance proves
> there is anything we can call a mind but would easily accept that you
> could do such a thing with an equally complex performance by a machine
> that you know nothing about the internal workings of. I don't buy it.
> The only reason you know about algorythms is because of what you do
> know about computers. But suppose we sent something like IBM's chess
> playing machine back in time a century or two and put it up against
> someone like Capablanca. Would he be able to deduce just by the moves
> it made that he was playing against a machine? I suspect he
> wouldn't.
>
As aggressively as computers tend to play, he would probably suspect
that he was playing Alekhine...
>
> Grant
>
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===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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