sher (01/06/83)
From: David.Sher I have noticed that discussions seem to be petering out in this news group but there is no shortage of random issues that any idiot can discuss and come up with interesting and surprizing results (this may not work for non-idiots they know too much and have too many preconceptions). I will now put out the ones I can do off the top of my head. If there is a desire for more of this junk I will post more after random time intervals. Is there a soul? If so does it have properties? If so what are they? What is Artificial Intelligence (or Cognitive Science) and who is working in it (and who isn't)? Why do people write articles to the net and what do they hope to gain from it? Does true altruism exist? Does North Dakota exist? (have you ever been there? do you know anyone who has? evidense?) What is the relationship between the objective universe and the perceived universe? What is the relationship between Judaism and Christianity? (note this may be too hot for this net) Is Ronald Regan a good president? Does anyone besides me exist? -David Sher (or the ai project by the same name)
iy47ab (01/07/83)
I don't know about the rest of you. I would like to think that I exist, but, as a perceptive reader pointed out to me a while back, I, too, may be a product of AI (or AS...artificial stupidity) as the case may be. But thinking back to Robert Heinlein's "All You Zombies...", I wonder. Is there a soul? Depends if you are AI or not, I suppose. This seems a rather open-ended question...anyone have any evidence? By the way...just offhand, this is a vote for the AI net. So when are we gonna get it? How do we go about implementing it? Who knows??? True altruism DOES NOT exist. There is always an ulterior motive. The mistake most people make is to assume that that is necessarily a BAD thing. Why should it be? We are all human. Humanity does not necessarily imply altruism...where did we get the idea that it was such a wonderful thing? ...? North Dakota does not exist. Anyone who professes to hail from thereabouts is LYING. ...enough already. Replies, anyone? Lady Arwen of U.C. San Diego
franka (01/08/83)
#R:rocheste:-36800:tekcad:7600005:000:400
tekcad!franka Jan 7 09:39:00 1983
For some interesting reading on all of these philosophical AI issues,
try Douglas Hoffstaedter's (sp?) new book, "The Mind's I". It is a collection
of other people's work (for those of you who detest the editor) and has some
very intresting articles in it.
Frank A. Adrian
uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!franka
CSnet: franka@tek
ARPAnet: franka.tek@rand-relayfranka (01/08/83)
#R:rocheste:-36800:tekcad:7600006:000:281
tekcad!franka Jan 8 09:27:00 1983
I agree. North Dakota DOES NOT exist! It is a product of the minds
of those people too shy to admit they come from Lake Woebegone, Minnesota.
Frank Adrian
uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!franka
CSnet: franka@tek
ARPAnet: franka.tek@rand-relayberry (01/09/83)
#R:rocheste:-36800:zinfandel:8200008:000:1149
zinfandel!berry Jan 7 09:04:00 1983
Does true altruism exist?
Yes, but what's in it for me?
Does North Dakota exist? (have you ever been there? do you know anyone
who has? evidense?)
Well, I drove through a place that claimed to be North Dakota
("Welcome to North Dakota" at the borders and all) and even spent the night
in a city there, but I couldn't say if it's still there. Satellite photos
reveal no gaping holes there, though.
What is the relationship between the objective universe and the
perceived universe?
1. None whatsoever, assuming either exists.
2. They are exactly the same.
3. Wankel Rotary Engines.
4. None of the above.
5. All of the above
What is the relationship between Judaism and Christianity? (note this
may be too hot for this net)
Closer than many people think.
Is Ronald Regan a good president?
Ronald Regan is not a president. As for Ronald Reagan, I decline
to answer on the basis of the 5th amendment to the Nettiquette, viz.
"If you don' wanna be flamed at, shut up."
Does anyone besides me exist?
Bad question. Everyone knows the objective Universe is a
Megrathean AI project, so in one sense no one exists.
--Berry Kercheval