X-Message-Number: 25563 Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 07:30:38 -0500 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #25549 - #25556 For Peter Merel: I would readily agree that a lot of computing methods (even neural nets IN THE CURRENT SENSE OF COMPUTER THEORISTS) are unlikely to produce anything like an intelligent creature. Nor, for that matter, do I personally think we'd be wise to produce another intelligent creature (even if its superior performance to us in the real world as distinct from the world of computer simulation may turn out far harder to do than most theorists believe). However all your arguments run up against brains. I don't even have to give you human brains; the brains of insects serve quite well enough. Nor, for that matter, is the case that other planets could not produce creatures as intelligent as fruit flies nearly as strong as any case that they could not produce creatures as intelligent as human beings. The problem here is that brains work because they are networks of neurons. Even insect brains leave most computer networks far behind, but they're networks nonetheless. So exactly what is your problem with making computers, even computers with the intelligence of bees, out of networks? Please explain. Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25563