From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!torn.onet.on.ca!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!mips!munnari.oz.au!uunet!trwacs!erwin Tue Jun  9 10:07:40 EDT 1992
Article 6137 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com (Harry Erwin)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Grounding: Real vs. Virtual (formerly "on meaning")
Keywords: symbol, analog, Turing Test, robotics
Message-ID: <625@trwacs.fp.trw.com>
Date: 7 Jun 92 10:47:37 GMT
References: <600@trwacs.fp.trw.com> <1992May24.143025.7180@psych.toronto.edu> <6924@pkmab.se> <BpBso3.850@psych.toronto.edu>
Organization: TRW Systems Division, Fairfax VA
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You're concerned with logical problems involving evolution (for example
beginnings), especially when compared to similar problems involving the
evolution of theories.

1. Let me suggest Richard Dawkins' book, The Blind Watchmaker, for a
start. Yes, the chemical evolution underlying the origin of life is not
understood, but enough is understood that we feel we have some hope of
reconstructing the transition.

2. The problems underlying the evolution of theories are very interesting
to me, since I'm interested in the evolution of culture. Most innovation
occurs within the semantic network associated with the culture element.
Paradigm shifts do occur, but there's evidence that the large majority are
associated with intrusive elements. Few cultures institutionalize paradigm
shifting, although we do in art. And, yes, this is also not well
understood.

Cheers,
-- 
Harry Erwin
Internet: erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com



