goldfain@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (03/29/89)
The overwhelming evidence is that the higher the animal species, the more
rapidly it is helping ADVANCE the ultimate heat-death of the universe, rather
than the reverse correlation, as intimated by a previous note.
- Mark Goldfainssingh@watdcsu.waterloo.edu ( SINGH S - INDEPENDENT STUDIES ) (04/02/89)
Agreed, if anything, the existence of higher intelligences creates
entropy faster than anything else.
This may sound misplaced, but can anyone CONCISELY and PRECISELY
explain the strong and weak anthropic principles. What are the implications,
if any, for intelligent machines? Is this more related to the
idea of life, or intelligence? ie. Does the anthropic principle say
something exclusively about life, or exclusively about intelligence, or
both?
Sanjay Singhandrew@nsc.nsc.com (andrew) (04/03/89)
In article <5754@watdcsu.waterloo.edu>, ssingh@watdcsu.waterloo.edu ( SINGH S - INDEPENDENT STUDIES ) writes: > ...can anyone CONCISELY and PRECISELY > explain the strong and weak anthropic principles. What are the implications, > if any, for intelligent machines? Is this more related to the > idea of life, or intelligence? ie. Does the anthropic principle say > something exclusively about life, or exclusively about intelligence, or > both? There is an excellently-worded article in "The Economist", March 11 1989, p90 devoted to the anthropic principle. As you no doubt know, Steven Hawking previously addressed the topic in "A Brief History Of Time". The Economist article discusses a recently-discovered flaw identified by Dr. Ian Hacking of Toronto U, called "the inverse gambler's fallacy". The implication is that any anthropic principle reduces to an empty tautology. The article is too long to post. Perhaps this belongs in sci.philosophy... but hope this helps. ===== Andrew Palfreyman USENET: ...{this biomass}!nsc!logic!andrew National Semiconductor M/S D3969, 2900 Semiconductor Dr., PO Box 58090, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8090 ; 408-721-4788 there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip