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Article 1396 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: millerjx@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Justin W. Miller)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Fe-/Male Decision Making
Message-ID: <1991Nov18.161207.25884@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
Date: 18 Nov 91 16:12:07 GMT
References: <THOMAS.91Nov17210303@idiotix.0>
Sender: millerjx@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Justin Miller)
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati
Lines: 77

Follow-Up to: #1719
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnatti
Keywords: female,male,decisions

In article <THOMAS.91Nov17210303@idiotix.0> thomas@idiotix.0 (Thomas Beckmann) writes:
>
>Coming from the applicability of the term "information processing" for
>minds *and* computers (a question posted here by somebody) Barry
>(barry@michael.ai.mit.edu) and me dicussed decision making. 
>
>I brought up the question, in how far there is a difference between
>female and male decision making and decided, to give this back to
>everybody, because we couldn't find a good answer.
>
>1) Are there differences ?
>
>If:
>2.1) Do you think that they affect ai ?
>
>2.2) What do you think about the quality of decisions ?
>
>thomas


Justin millerjx@ucunix.san.uc.edu writes:
That is a very good question, and one I am prepared to answer.
Biologically, the brain of both genders of humans is almost identical. Thus,
differences that are apparent in the general female's mental operations and the
male's mental operations are all based on the gender distinctions and the
gender's environment.

   Gender distinctions are the physically visible ones that relate to
   reproduction and fitness for gender functions. Females have a much greater
   developed child-raising function, as do all females of any species. This is
   not by accident, but rather inherent. Just as the males tend to be better
   hunters. This function, believe it or not, can be seen in everyday life.
   There is no mystery to me as to why men can be more brutal about children!
   And there is also no mystery to me as to why women are much more careful
   about sex: they bear the responsibility! It is not a matter of her personal
   views of sex-- it is the physical, natural childbearing function inherent in
   her being.

   Where this relates to 'intelligence' is where extraneous knowledge enters
   the picture. How many female philosophers have you read about? Not many. Not
   many at all. My observations support the theory that females are by default
   so concerned with material matters that they have no time/desire to philoso-
   phize. To degenerate... "makeup, safe sex, boyfriends, images, popularity,
   dealing with mom who didn't do that when she was her age, etc.".. the list
   goes on and on. Is there any wonder why men are historically the ones who
   tinkered with cars in their off time? Or who had the time to invent famous
   things?

   Most men are physically and mentally able to do some things most women are
   not. The reasons are all there for you to see. I'm just pointing you in the
   direction I've been facing for some time. It does not support some moral
   viewpoint, nor does it rely on faith. It is a straight-forward answer for a
   straight-forward question.

   Where this directly affects AI is where extraneous knowledge would come in
   handy. Men have been known to compile dictionaries, run physical labor
   companies, and do generally more things than women, historically. This is
   NOT a sexist viewpoint. It is a cold but solid fact. I advocate the advance
   of the female species' boundaries, to the extent that they do not become
   unproductive members of their species. BY NATURE, the female is better
   equipped to take care of a child, while the males are BY NATURE better at
   hunting, providing, that type of thing. Instinctually, that is the
   difference between the sexes. Nothing else matters. So my heart goes out to
   females who hate the household and want to go chop logs, but again-- there
   is a definite deficiency in the household. The male can better chop logs
   than feed the baby, and the female can better care for the baby than she can
   chop logs.

   In my educated opinion, AI is affected by gender distinctions for those
   reasons.

   That's my answer-- hope it raises a few blinds!
-justin millerjx@ucunix.san.uc.edu


