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Article 6499 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: khise@conquest.ksu.ksu.edu (Martin Andrew Shobe)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Defining Intelligence
Date: 23 Jul 1992 16:26:04 -0500
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Sender: khise@conquest.ksu.ksu.edu (Martin Andrew Shobe)
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In article <1992Jul23.151338.28804@mp.cs.niu.edu>, rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert) writes:
>In article <2ZmcoB1w164w@cybernet.cse.fau.edu> justin.bbs@cybernet.cse.fau.edu writes:
>>
>>        I. Intelligence requires a memory storage/retrieval system.
>
>  Strongly disagree.
>
>  Certainly humans are capable of learning, and learning implies some
>kind of memory.  But I deny that it is a "storage/retrieval" system.
>Indeed it is my opinion that the often held belief that we have a
>storage/retrieval system is a major stumbling block in understanding
>human cognition.
>

But we do have storage/retrieval systems.  Somehow, I have stored that I was
born on June 13, 1969.  What this has to do with intelligence is a different
story.


>>        II. Intelligence is about problem-solving.
>
>  Strongly disagree.
>
>  Intelligence is all about survival.  For survival, response to stimulus
>is the important feature.  Problem solving certainly helps by greatly
>broadening the variety of possible responses.  But I would prefer to
>say that problem solving ability is a side effect of intelligence, rather
>than a central component.
>

So, all else being equal.  If A is stronger than B, A is more intelligent than B?

>
>>        V. Intelligence is a function of speed.  It's likely we all agree 
>>on this point.
>
>  Can't agree here either.  Speed certainly has utility.  But I don't
>believe it is central.  Certainly speed is an important part of
>intelligence for an animal involved in intense predator/prey relations.
>But if a creature adopts an ecological niche where there are no predators,
>it might be able to adopt a quite sedate life style and still be very
>intelligent.
>

By your definition, wouldn't this creature be very intelligent *because* it found
this lifestyle?

I haven't thought enough about intelligence to actually define it.  But, I believe
that it is independent of size, strength, or physical speed.  All of which are 
important to survival.  Nor do I believe that if I decide that something is more
important than my personal survival, that I am less intelligent.  

Martin Shobe



