From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ub!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!usenet.coe.montana.edu!milton!monaghan Tue Nov 26 12:31:38 EST 1991
Article 1514 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: monaghan@milton.u.washington.edu (Tracy Monaghan)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Daniel Dennett
Message-ID: <1991Nov23.001020.4844@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 23 Nov 91 00:10:20 GMT
References: <39586@dime.cs.umass.edu> <1991Nov22.185012.21228@milton.u.washington.edu> <39652@dime.cs.umass.edu>
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 32

In article <39652@dime.cs.umass.edu> yodaiken@chelm.cs.umass.edu (victor yodaiken) writes:
>In article <1991Nov22.185012.21228@milton.u.washington.edu> monaghan@milton.u.washington.edu (Tracy Monaghan) writes:
>>In article <39586@dime.cs.umass.edu> yodaiken@chelm.cs.umass.edu (victor yodaiken) writes:
>>>In article <DAVIDMC.91Nov21100802@fsd.cpsc.ucalgary.ca> davidmc@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (davidmc) writes:
>>>>zeleny@zariski.harvard.edu (Mikhail Zeleny) writes:

[stuff deleted for brevity]

>
>Yup. That is, I'm not anti-machinery, but I'm against making human beings
>subservient to machinery. Thus, computers are fine, computers that

Humans will become subservient only if humans allow themselves to become
subservient.  Obviously I have more optimism in humans than you.

>control people are not fine. 

Traffic lights aren't fine?
Control systems for planes which prevent collision aren't fine?

It's how and when these tools (computers included) are used that is important.
Does sheet metal go into making tanks or ambulances?

Humans add/create value to these objects.  Only humans can remove value.
The question is not whether these tools are good or evil (they're
inanimate) but will these tools be USED for good or evil? 
             
-- 
Cheers,                  | There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
                         | Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Tracy                    |                       -- Hamlet 1:5
monaghan@u.washington.edu|                       by William Shakespeare


