From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!spool.mu.edu!umn.edu!umeecs!z.eecs.umich.edu!marky Wed Sep 16 21:23:15 EDT 1992
Article 6899 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: marky@z.eecs.umich.edu (Mark Anthony Young)
Subject: Re: Defining intelligence
Message-ID: <1992Sep13.174128.2843@zip.eecs.umich.edu>
Sender: news@zip.eecs.umich.edu (Mr. News)
Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept., Ann Arbor
References: <1992Sep7.14929.16475@ms.uky.edu> <exukjb.137.716066041@exu.ericsson.se> <1992Sep11.00857.16070@ms.uky.edu>
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 17:41:28 GMT
Lines: 52

This thread has been going on for some time crediting me with the following:

>In article <1992Aug13.044325.16707@zip.eecs.umich.edu> marky@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Mark Anthony Young) writes:
>>From: marky@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Mark Anthony Young)
>>Subject: Re: Defining intelligence
>>Date: 13 Aug 92 04:43:25 GMT
  [...]
>>OK, I've seen enough!  A new characterization of "intelligence": the 
>>capacity to adapt means to ends.  Differential abilities in respect of 
>>adapting means to ends by different orders of living being indicates 
>>why intelligence is both a type-word and a straightforwardly adjectival 
>>one. The more intelligent something is, the better able it is to find the 
>>best means to attain its ends. 

>>Theoretical Advantages:

>>      1. Accounts for our use of the word to cover any kind of living 
>>           entity capable of acting purposefully (this does not mean nor 
>>           entail that entities to which we may properly ascribe 
>>         intelligence select their own goals, only that they have them 
>>         and go about attaining them, and that their behavior must be 
>>         given a purposeful explanation.)                   

>>      2. Accounts for our gut feeling that intelligence is closely 
>>         tied to consciousness, because only conscious beings            
>>         know values (rooted in needs & desires) and thus can have 
>>         purposes. And, since consciousness is a matter of    
>>         degree, so is intelligence.        

>>Anticipated Objection1: Doesn't intelligence enter in to the choice of 
>>                      ends as well as means? 

>>Anticipated Objection2: Must the ends be pre-visioned (requiring 
>>                      consciousness)?

>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>Kenny Bell                          *        Welcome to Mind Wars
>>Ericsson Network Systems, Inc       *        Abstract Arts BBS 386-7907

>>P.O. Box 833875                     *        Severity with oneself is heroism.

>>Richardson, TX 75083-3875           *        --A.G.Sertillanges (France, 1943)

>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It should be clear from the signature that this was not written by me, but by 
Kenny Bell (in response to something I had written).  Please edit the 
attribution line to give proper credit.

thanks...mark young



