Turing Vs. Descarte on Thinking Machines - An Essay

Discussion in 'Intelligence & Machines' started by Kruddler, Sep 2, 2003.

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  1. Kruddler Registered Member

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    I am writing an essay as part of my philosophy course on thinking machines. The essay is geared towards Descarte and Turing's ideas on the matter. I would appreciate any ideas on what the main arguments are and what I have to refute etc.

    Also I would appreciate any solid information on advancements in AI recently. It's very hard to get a clear picture on the net of exactly how far AI has come. No one has so far been able to give a definitive answer to this question.
     
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  3. hlreed Registered Senior Member

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    Read "GoodBye, Descartes" by Keith Devlin, Wiley, 1997.
    Actually, Devlin is the only Phylosopher that gets close to understanding the brain as machine.

    Good essay topic.
     
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  5. Kruddler Registered Member

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    GoodBye, Descartes

    I would like to read it but I don't really have time. I have to finish the essay soon and I live in Japan so I probably wouldn't even be able to get my hands on it here. I'm just looking for the main arguments on Descartes' side and the main arguments on Turing's side.
     
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  7. spookz Banned Banned

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    Re: GoodBye, Descartes

    i would love to help but i am pressed for time too! sorry!

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  8. gendanken Ruler of All the Lands Valued Senior Member

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    Kruddler:
    While not an expert in anything by any means, I'll give you what I know.
    Descartes was greatly influenced by the idea of hyperbolic doubt, meaning that everything was open to his doubting but the only thing not was that he existed- the "cogito" of his famous saying.
    Basically put, he dichotomized himself and the animal by saying that the only thing qualifying him as human was a "soul".
    And so the only means by which a man is a man is spirituallity.

    Turing however proposed his famous test for artificial intelligence in that he imagined putting a computer behind a screen and if either you or I could interact with this machine and be fooled, then the apparatus is truly intelligent. No need for a soul.

    Its a classic spiritual vs. material debate that's been going on for ages and no one wants to shut up about it. But anyway....this will help with your essay:

    http://ai-depot.com/
     
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