Re: Paper by ~MM on distributed self-awareness

Yes. I have trouble both with 'emergence' and 'self-aware,' because
they are both sloppy, commonsensical terms that tend to keep people
from thinking in more detail. I've recently posted chapter 9 on the
concept of Self; see the links to "The Emotion Machine" chapters on my
home page. Just as I see many meanings for 'consciousness' in chapter
4, I see many meanings for 'self-aware,' and Melanie Mitchell is wise
to avoid such terms.

As for 'emergence,' it's most common meaning in AI-related literature
seems to be something like "I find it so hard to predict what systems
like X will do, that I doubt that anyone else will be able to make
adequate theories about such question." In other words, it seems to
me, that they often use 'emergence' as a reason to stop thinking about
the problem at hand--rather than trying to develop more detailed
theories about what causes a particular phenomenon.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Paper by ~MM on distributed self-awareness
    ... I have trouble both with 'emergence' and 'self-aware,' because ... commonsensical terms that tend to keep people ... Just as I see many meanings for 'consciousness' in chapter ... adequate theories about such question." ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Paper by ~MM on distributed self-awareness
    ... I have trouble both with 'emergence' and 'self-aware,' because ... commonsensical terms that tend to keep people ... Just as I see many meanings for 'consciousness' in chapter ... back to the thread - it seems to me self-awareness is a social skill (like empathy) and has very little to do with a machine watching itself pick out letter sequences. ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)