Mark Aaron Wille wrote:
>> > > I once heard a quite strond argument during some introductory AI
> > > classes: computer hardware (neural nets not included) work in
> > > algoritms. Conscious minds, such as ours, use procedures (or whatever
> > > you want to call it) that are not algoritm based. Computers CAN only
> > > use algoritms (at least nowadays) so based on this principle, a
> > > computer will never gain consciousness, no matter how big or fast it
> > > is.
>> I think these "procedures" you speak of are what psychologists called
> heuristics.
Digital computers also employ heuristics. There is a claim here that
what minds do is not algorithm-based. While there may be strong arguments for that, merely *stating it* is not one. And as I also
pointed out, even if minds don't use algorithms and computers only
use algorithms, the conclusion that computers will never gain
consciousness does not follow. Especially when the arguments that
minds are not algorithm-based generally rest upon an ambiguity
between algorithm-based and being algorithmically achievable, which is
precisely the gap that would have to be closed in order to reach the
conclusion.
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<J Q B>
