Re: simple, plain-English introduction?

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:29:15 -0600, Randy <joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Brian Janko wrote:
>> Is there a simple, plain-English introduction to the limits of
>> artificial life, consciousness, and the possible threshold where
>> robots/computers could possibly cross over to being autonomous, having
>> freewill and/or emotion? I'm not a scientist. I have some computer
>> background, but it would be easier to understand the detailed technical
>> info online if I could get a better grasp of the Overview first.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brian
>
>I think alife has little to do with strong AI. From my readings, alife
>is a colloquial term that refers to any form of computing that can be
>seen as analogous to biology, in essence, software that "behaves" in
>some way that living systems do. IMHO, such an enterprise is much too
>unfocused and insubstantial to explore the boundary to something as
>subtle and elusive as the human level of intellectual competence.

But when the complexity of the 'artificial' behaviors reach
a level similar to that seen in 'real' life - don't the
devices BECOME 'real' life for all intents and purposes ?
Be it a e-beetle or an e-human ... same rule applies.

>What's the threshold for consciousness ? That's a more precise question,
>but the answer (and even the terminology of the question) has changed a
>lot in the past 40 years. Frankly, I'm doubtful anyone can answer it
>precisely, accurately, with any confidence.

We can't even properly DEFINE 'consciousness'. Is a dog
'conscious' ? A horse ? A chimp ? Prominent politicians ?
It has something to do with 'self awareness' - but even
a CPU with a built-in thermistor for measuring its own
temperature is 'self aware' to a small degree.

'Consciousness' doesn't seem to have a 'threshold' - it's
something that just creeps into the picture a little bit
at a time as brain complexity increases. Dogs are LESS
'conscious' than people, but not UN-conscious.

.

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