Re: Jaron Lanier Got Up My Shnoz on AI

From: John Clark (jonkc@worldnet.att.net)
Date: Wed Jan 16 2002 - 23:16:51 MST


Randall Randall <wolfkin@freedomspace.net> Wrote:

>I'd like to know what evidence you have that they [other people] really
>are aware of themselves in a way that, for instance, a rock isn't.

As I said I guessed, I guessed that you can't have intelligence without
consciousness. I'll never be able to prove it obviously, but the evidence from
evolution is not bad and I know with certainty of one example where the two
are linked, when I'm not conscious I'm not very smart. On balance I think it's
a pretty good guess.

> Are you prepared to assert the self-awareness of a plant that
> turns its leaves toward light?

Certainly, of course it's not much self-awareness but then turning your
leaves toward the light is not much of a response.

        John K Clark jonkc@att.net



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