From: Dossy (dossy@panoptic.com)
Date: Mon Jan 14 2002 - 12:17:27 MST
On 2002.01.14, J. R. Molloy <jr@shasta.com> wrote:
> From: "Dossy" <dossy@panoptic.com>
> > This begs the question of "what is creativity" -- [...]
>
> [...] Creativity does not require sentience, as computer-generated
> poetry/humor demonstrates. [...]
Please justify this assertion in more detail, thanks. In particular,
how do you differentiate between creativity and sentience? Perhaps
I need to use the phrase "meaningful creativity" rather than just
"creativity" with the "meaningful" only implied.
I can build a "robot" which "creates" things, just as my two-year
old daughter can "create" things, but I'd suggest that the robot
lacks creativity where my daughter posesses it. I'm not suggesting
that this is the case merely because my daughter is sentient and
the robot is not, of course.
Perhaps the problem is that the common definition of the word
"creativity" uses "create" in it, particularly (according to
dictionary.com):
cre·a·tive
adj.
1. Having the ability or power to create [...]
Circular definitions can be very poor.
> Those who have learned the knack of meditation see this as the
> ultimate way of life.
Reminds me of the joke:
"Everyone is gifted. Not everyone opens her present."
Our sentience is a gift that so few of us appreciate, or
learn to appreciate.
-- Dossy
--
Dossy Shiobara mail: dossy@panoptic.com
Panoptic Computer Network web: http://www.panoptic.com/
"He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)
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