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Article 2890 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: lehman_ds@lrc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Redefining Intelligence
Message-ID: <1992Jan18.154135.122@lrc.edu>
Date: 18 Jan 92 20:41:34 GMT
Organization: Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC
Lines: 40


    I am new to this newsgroup and quite new to the actual structure of
AI bases machines since I am an undergrad working on a BS in CS, but I
have had backround in philosophy and psychology.  I am by no means
and expert, but I see alot of arguments based on misunderstaning of
original premises.  If intelligence is soley reserved for humans because
they have some extra-ordinary quality (making this a rationalist view), then
by the very definition we can not produce a computer that is intelligent.
But what says that Artifical Intelligence must follow the same rules since
we come about with a new definition.  Artifical implies man-made and having
similar qualities to the orginal.  Take for example artifical flavoring;
this is something that tastes like a natural organic product but which has
a differnt structure.  The affect is the same, but the technique is diferent.
To say that we can not produce an intelligent machine may no longer be the
issue.  The question is can we produce an artifical intelligence?
  Until we can create biological computers we may never be able to have
a computer understand us completely since we abstract to commonly to common
biological experiences. Several analogies can be made between the workings
of the machine and human thought, but a 1 to 1 ratio seems far fetched.
  To say that understanding is intelligence would leave alot of people
as complete morons that we rank as intelligent.. A good example is the
student that can memorize all the text for a class.  This person may
be able to pass with straight A's while never understanding any of the ideas.
  Here's a hypothetical situation:
    Scientists discover other life forms in outer space.  And to our
surprise they come visit us and show us advanced techniques for space
travel and other things.  After helping us work out many major problems
we face, we discover that they are silicon based life forms with
a vastly different "brain".  Do these creatures fail to be intelligent
because they do not understand some of our idioms or do not have a 
brain like ours?
   To say that these creatures may also be enpowered with a "soul"
from a higher being which many people place as a criteria, who is
to say that the machines we create would not also be enpowered with 
a "soul" or mind?
   I think it's time for a new definition or term for computer generated
intelligence..
   I would appiciate any replies..
   Drew Lehman
   lehman_ds@alice.lrc.edu


