From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!utcsri!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!hp-cv!ogicse!pnl-oracle!duke!d3g637 Wed Aug 12 16:51:54 EDT 1992
Article 6527 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: d3g637@duke.oname (David P. Chassin)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Defining Intelligence
Message-ID: <1992Jul30.173337.24391@oracle.pnl.gov>
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:33:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: oracle.1992Jul30.173337.24391
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Organization: Battelle/Pacific Northwest Laboratories
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I came across an article in Feb 91 IEEE Expert about 
Artificial Life.  In this article the author builds on
the ALife-AI claim: "The dumbest smart thing you can
do it stay alive," adding "that is, ALife represents
the lower bound for AI."

This leads me to a more general thought about defining
intelligence:  "If it gets the job done, it's intelligent
_enough_".  The pragmatist in me arises ;-) James would
be pleased, IMHO. What I like about this kind of
definition is it uses no a priori notions about how 
intelligence is measured, rather it measures intelligence
based on the success of the subject within its range.


        Dave Chassin
        Email: dp_chassin@pnl.gov           "Life is either a daring
        Vox: (509)375-4369                    adventure or nothing"
        Fax: (509)375-3614                           - Helen Keller


