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To: jennyp
The idea is, the mind isn't some separate entity from the brain itself. It's simply what the brain does.

I then presume that you deny the possibility of an artificial mind.

Do you think there is analogy between the mind and a general purpose computer? A GP computer "mechanically" functions. When power is applied, electronics signals are generated, heat is produced, voltages are switched etc. However to do something "useful" it must have a program. Once a program is introduced into this "mechanical" vessel, the vessel becomes quite a different thing. The program is also considerably a different thing than the vessel. Does the program require a particular vessel? Generally, no. Now the question becomes does it require any vessel? At this point your acceptance or rejection of the analogy is needed to go on further.

772 posted on 05/23/2002 7:15:22 AM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC
The idea is, the mind isn't some separate entity from the brain itself. It's simply what the brain does.

I then presume that you deny the possibility of an artificial mind.

Of course not. How would that follow from what I said?
Do you think there is analogy between the mind and a general purpose computer? A GP computer "mechanically" functions. When power is applied, electronics signals are generated, heat is produced, voltages are switched etc. However to do something "useful" it must have a program. Once a program is introduced into this "mechanical" vessel, the vessel becomes quite a different thing. The program is also considerably a different thing than the vessel. Does the program require a particular vessel? Generally, no. Now the question becomes does it require any vessel?

The program requires some vessel in order to exist. If it's merely a gleam in a programmer's eye then it still requires a brain. If it's been typed out, it requires a medium in which to be stored. If it's been installed in a computer, then it requires a suitable computer.

But you are talking about an "artificial mind" here - one whose program is being imposed on it from outside. The whole thing about living organisms is, the program is generated internally. Ultimately you could say it was bootstrapped into existence by evolution. I think it's clear that intelligence (or any kind of functional complexity) can be created by 2 methods: From an existing intelligence from without, or by living processes (in the long run by evolution) from within. Method 2 created the living world, and elements of that world used Method 1 to create the artificial world.

So where I suspect you're going with this is really begging the question: Did evolution occur?

809 posted on 05/23/2002 12:20:26 PM PDT by jennyp
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