petry@blake.u.washington.edu (David Petry) (11/27/90)
In article <1990Nov25.204513.24169@nntp-server.caltech.edu> morphy@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Jones Maxime Murphy) writes: > A great deal of human intelligence derives from self-reference, ... Is this true? Perhaps somebody who believes that the above statement is true could give us a careful definition of "self-reference", especially one that clearly distinguishes self-reference from recursion, and then show how the above statement can be supported. David Petry petry@math.washington.edu
corey@dataco.UUCP (Shawn Corey) (11/27/90)
In article <11705@milton.u.washington.edu> petry@blake.u.washington.edu (David Petry) writes: >In article <1990Nov25.204513.24169@nntp-server.caltech.edu> morphy@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Jones Maxime Murphy) writes: > >> A great deal of human intelligence derives from self-reference, ... > >Is this true? > [material deleted] > >David Petry >petry@math.washington.edu I don't know if this is true but it is very easy to generate self-referring statements. For example, let S be the set of all statements. Let L be the set of logical statements, that is, statements that can only be true or false. Let s be a member of L. Is s true? Why? (The reader is encourage to state an answer before continuing.) Obviously, one can not determine the value of s without knowing what s is. Ok, let s be the statement "Let s be a member of L." Is s true? Why? Humans have the ability to think both subjectively and objectively about a subject. Self-reference seems to be the mechanism used. By adding one simple fact, a radical change of perspective occurs. Another example will illustrate this. You are doing some shopping an you happen to be in the television section of a large department store. On one of the screens you see someone whose wallet is being picked. What do you do? Now, you notice that the person who lost his wallet happens to have on the same clothes as you. More than that, he just happens to move at the exact time you do and in the exact manner. What do you do? Why is your action now different from before? What has just occured is a shift from thinking objectively to subjectively. Self-reference does effect behavior and therefore must be part of an intelligent system. Standing around daydreaming just after your pocket has been picked is not what I consider intelligent behavior. Using self-reference in more programs will definitely improve their performance. To answer your question, yes, a great deal of any intelligence is derived from self-reference. -- +---------------+--------------------------------------------------+ | Shawn Corey | "Never mind, Scotty, we'll test them in combat!" | | corey@dataco | -- famous Starfleet Captain | +---------------+--------------------------------------------------+