From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!mp.cs.niu.edu!rickert Mon Aug 24 15:41:28 EDT 1992
Article 6667 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
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>From: rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert)
Subject: Re: what is consciousness for?
Message-ID: <1992Aug20.191345.23208@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Organization: Northern Illinois University
References: <1992Aug19.143831.14839@mp.cs.niu.edu> <BtA916.9EI@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 19:13:45 GMT
Lines: 17

In article <BtA916.9EI@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca> cpshelle@logos.uwaterloo.ca (cameron shelley) writes:
>rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert) writes:
>> 
>> I guess we have different concepts of "rapid learning".  Learning over
>> a lifetime seems anything but rapid.  Most learning of culture is quite
>> slow.  Dealing with crisis and emergency situations, on the other hand,
>> requires rapid learning.
>
>That's true, but also an extreme case, if I understand your meaning. 
>I think learning over a lifetime is quite rapid when compared with the
>general rate of genetic `learning'.  And if you subscribe to the

Agreed, any learning is rapid compared with evolutionary changes.  But
we were discussing consciousness.  Gradual learning over an extended
period - say your lifetime - appears to be largely unconscious.  Learning
which involves consciousness is much more rapid.



