From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wupost!uunet!mcsun!unido!horga!ruhr.de!xenox.ruhr.de!mechti.ruhr.de!catzen.GUN.de!scot Mon Dec 16 11:01:03 EST 1991
Article 2033 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wupost!uunet!mcsun!unido!horga!ruhr.de!xenox.ruhr.de!mechti.ruhr.de!catzen.GUN.de!scot
>From: scot@catzen.GUN.de (Scot W. Stevenson)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Man vs. Machine?
Message-ID: <5Sf2PArrMm.@catzen.GUN.de>
Date: 11 Dec 91 05:20:43 GMT
References: <12577@pitt.UUCP> <2621@richsun.cpg.trs.reuter.com> <YAMAUCHI.91Nov27024148@indigo.cs.rochester.edu> <Yp4.IpvQB4k@catzen.GUN.de>
Reply-To: scot@catzen.GUN.de
Distribution: comp
Organization: :noitazinagrO
Lines: 34
X-Charset: iso-8859-1
X-Software: HERMES GUS 0.99 Rev. Oct 12 1991

Hello Gordon,

>I can think of lots of
>ways that machines could compete with us.  If machines more intelligent
>than humans come about, they may be the one that make all further 
>intellectual discoveries, essentially cutting us out of what many
>of us consider the highest and most rewarding types of endevor.

Okay, the work done on mathematical systems does point in that direction.
I guess we can assume a progressivly larger part of research going to more
and more developed and intelligent tools. But this is hardly life-threatening,
just a problem of human pride. Sort of like when the computers take over 
chess some time in the next ten years - a lot of people will feel that the
fun has gone out of the game, but the game will still keep progressing 
regardless if man or machine makes the discoveries. 

>They may also compete for power to decide how limited resources are
>used.  Perhaps they will decide that they want to go to the stars,
>and that all output of the planet will be devoted to that goal, neglecting
>what we consider other needs that we have.

There it is again, the 'want' word =8). Computers don't 'want' anything
unless we tell them to, and you are also assuming that they will have 
political or economic power. Both would have to be given to them by humans, 
since they are unlikely to pop up by themselves. Especially the 'power'
question seems to be somewhat unlikely to me - unless you propose some 
robot-type physical extension of the machine's will.

-- 
"We bled our economy white and saw our standard of living decrease as 
countries benefiting from our protection refurbished, became our competitors 
and now threaten to become our economic superiors" -- James Webb

            Scot W. Stevenson scot@catzen.GUN.de Essen, Germany


