computer models of the mind

[Nick Thompson]

Gak!, Phil,

Reminds me of that anecdote that is designed to show the fallacy of
induction.

Drunk falls off the patio of the 14th floor of an apartment abuilding.  On
every patio for the 13 floors below, is, (as it happens) an eager
psychology student ready to record the drunk's  reactions as he goes by.

"So far, so good."

Nick

Nicholas Thompson
nickthompson at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson


> [Original Message]
> From: Phil Henshaw <sy at synapse9.com>
> To: <nickthompson at earthlink.net>; The Friday Morning Applied Complexity
Coffee Group <friam at redfish.com>

> Date: 7/19/2006 9:19:18 PM
> Subject: RE: [FRIAM] computer models of the mind
>
> Well, it depends on what you mean.  I like metaphors too for lots of
> reasons and agree whole heartedly that you need to check if the
> "analogues line up" as you say.   I think if you consider computers and
> minds as metaphors the analogues very definitely line up well.   If, on
> the other hand, you consider them as things, there are quite a number of
> problems.   We haven't demonstrated that mental processes are digital
> yet, for just one example, or found any distinction in brain structures
> between software and data, for another.   On most difficult issues we
> seem quite satisfied by not having any way to test them, using the "I
> can't imagine what else" explanation for ending with the same
> proposition we started with.
>
> An actual willingness to doubt is a rare and wonderful thing, of course,
> partly because it takes a certain perversity to smash your head into the
> strangely common disconnects scattered about, taking on both the risk of
> rudeness and rejection.   There does seem to be some mental trick I
> can't explain to some of the things I've found, and lots of things I
> can't solve, but there is definitely a substantial cluster of
> disconnects in the common perception of nature hiding a world of hugely
> fun, and potentially profitable, stuff to explore.   Take the general
> assumption that humanity and the earth will continue to successfully
> respond, ever more rapidly, to ever more complicated change, forever...
>
>
> Well, the virtual model does it just fine!!  What could be the
> problem???
>
>
>
> Phil Henshaw                       ????.?? ? `?.????
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 680 Ft. Washington Ave
> NY NY 10040                      
> tel: [phone]                
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> explorations: www.synapse9.com    
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: friam-bounces at redfish.com
> > [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf Of Nicholas Thompson
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:35 AM
> > To: friam at redfish.com
> > Subject: Re: [FRIAM] computer models of the mind
> >
> >
> > All,
> >
> > My last friam issue came to me in two parts, the second
> > containing the last four items and no header.  Was that Just
> > Me or were others so afficted.
> >
> > As to computer metaphors, I believe profoundly in metaphors.  
> > In fact, for me it's metaphors all the way down.  All the way
> > up, too.  And sideways, as well.  
> >
> > But because I think metaphors are so important, I believe
> > that one must be very careful when using them to make sure
> > the analogues line up.
> > Generally, when we talk about minds, we strip away all the
> > peripherals.
> > Minds do not, in our common talk, have arms, legs, mouths,
> > eyes, etc., even though they are often said to "do inside"
> > all the acts that demand these peripherals.  When we talk
> > about computers, however, we endow them with keys, printers,
> > screens, etc. If minds are truly INSIDE, isnt the best
> > computer metaphor for a mind a turing machine, plain and
> > simple. (or do I misuse the term) ? Or at least an unadorned
> > box with nothing connected to it, or nothing PARTICULAR
> > connected to it.  
> >
> > Nick
> >
> > Nicholas Thompson
> > nickthompson at earthlink.net http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson
> >
> >
> > > [Original Message]
> > > From: <friam-request at redfish.com>
> > > To: <friam at redfish.com>
> > > Date: 7/19/2006 7:57:09 AM
> > > Subject: Friam Digest, Vol 37, Issue 26
> > >
> > > Send Friam mailing list submissions to
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> > >
> > > Today's Topics:
> > >
> > >    1. Re: Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar, beer
> > reviews and more
> > >       (Jochen Fromm)
> > >    2. singularity (Carlos Gershenson)
> > >    3. Re: Intentionality is the mark of the vital (Carlos
> > Gershenson)
> > >    4. Re: Intentionality is the mark of the vital (Phil Henshaw)
> > >    5. Re: Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar, beer
> > reviews and more
> > >       (Phil Henshaw)
> > >    6. Re: singularity (Bill Eldridge)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Message: 1
> > > Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:37:52 +0200
> > > From: "Jochen Fromm" <fromm at vs.uni-kassel.de>
> > > Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar,
> > beer reviews
> > > and more
> > > To: "'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group'"
> > > <friam at redfish.com>
> > > Message-ID: <000601c6ab0e$9ff6c7c0$976fa8c0 at Toshiba>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> > >
> > >
> > > The rating is not correct. Although a cold
> > > Guinness or Heineken is good as well, there
> > > is no doubt that the best beer is made
> > > here in Germany, most of them is not available
> > > in the US. Germany is famous for its beer.
> > > There are at least 1,300 breweries in Germany,
> > > brewing over 5,000 varieties of beer.
> > >
> > > Some of the best brands available in
> > > the whole country are Krombacher Pils
> > > (excellent) and Warsteiner (refreshing).
> > > There are also a lot of regional brands:
> > >
> > > In the North Flensburger Pils, Beck's and Jever
> > > In the Middle Koenig Pilsener, Veltnis and Bitburger
> > > In the South Erdinger Weissbier and Paulaner
> > >
> > > Mixed beers are popular, too, in Hamburg
> > > "Alster" (with lemonade), in Berlin
> > > "Berliner Weisse" (with syrup), and
> > > many other alcopops popular especially
> > > among young people
> >
> >
> >
> > ============================================================
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> >
> >
>