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From: bwk@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Barry W. Kort)
Newsgroups: comp.ai,talk.philosophy.misc
Subject: Re: Artificial Intelligence and Intelligence
Summary: Evolving Patterns of Organic Energy
Keywords: Matter, Energy, Information, Knowledge, Values, Free Will
Message-ID: <42571@linus.UUCP>
Date: 8 Dec 88 03:15:39 GMT
References: <562@metapsy.UUCP> <2732@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <563@metapsy.UUCP> <1841@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU>
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In article <1841@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU> geb@cadre.dsl.pittsburgh.edu
(Gordon E. Banks) writes:

 > In addition, a complex enough neural network can demonstrate behavior
 > the cause of which is not immediately apparent.  Obviously no network
 > has been invented as complex as the human brain, and until one is
 > we won't be able to answer the question experimentally.  Those bothered
 > by possible loss of free will should recall that in a system complex
 > enough, there is room for the possibility of indeterminacy, be
 > it a biological system or whatnot.  

Not only is there room for the possibility of indeterminacy, some
of us deliberately encorporate elements of randomness into our
behaviors.  (I for one don't want certain people to be able to predict
every move I'm going to make.)

As to Free Will, I define it as the capacity to make and enact
choices consistent with my knowledge and values.

 > If humans are not a machine, what elements are added to the body
 > (which seems to  be a physical machine as far as we can tell)
 > which make it otherwise?  Are these material or immaterial? 

One of the more interesting elements that is added to the human
body is the element of information.  (There is at least one
school of physics which proposes that the Universe is composed
of matter, energy, and information.)  The key information added
to the human body is in the form of Knowledge and Values.  In
deference to our Eastern philosophical friends, we may think of
such information as "Patterns of Organic Energy".  (It is immaterial
whether we think of such patterns as material or immaterial.)

 > Is there some aspect of human beings which does not obey the
 > laws of nature?

Not to my knowledge.

--Barry Kort