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From: greenba@gambia.crd.ge.com (ben a green)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Testing Intelligence (Re: Turing Test).
Message-ID: <GREENBA.90Nov30092227@gambia.crd.ge.com>
Date: 30 Nov 90 14:22:27 GMT
References: <4832@gara.une.oz.au>
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Organization: GE Corporate Research & Development
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In-reply-to: pnettlet@gara.une.oz.au's message of 29 Nov 90 23:09:07 GMT

In article <4832@gara.une.oz.au> pnettlet@gara.une.oz.au (Philip Nettleton) writes:
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			   DEFINITION:
	   GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM.

   a)	The system MUST be able to learn. This implies that the
	   system MUST have a memory for learning to be maintained.
	   Also learning comes in a number of varieties:

	   i)	It MUST be able to learn from its own experiences.
		   These can be broken down into further criteria:

		   1)	Learning through trial and error.
		   2)	Learning through observation.
		   3)	Learning through active reasoning.

	   ii)	It SHOULD be able to learn by instruction, but this
		   is not necessary. At the very least the system MUST
		   have preprogrammed instincts. This is a boot strap
		   for the developing intelligence.  Without a starting
		   point, the system cannot progress.

   b)	The system MUST be autonomous. That is to say, it MUST be
	   able to do things by itself (however may choose to accept
	   aid).  This can be dissected as:

	   i)	The system MUST be able to affect its environment
		   based on its own independent conclusions.

	   ii)	The system MUST be its own master first and foremost,
		   and therefore not require operator intervention to
		   function. This does not necessarily rule out the
		   taking of orders from another system, but the choice
		   to obey MUST be made by the system itself.

	   iii)	The system MUST be motivated. It must have needs and
		   requirements that can to be satisfied by its own
		   actions.

   c)	The system MUST be able to reason. That is to say, it must
	   use some form of reasoning, based on known facts and capable
	   of producing insights which later become known facts. It
	   should be noted that the degree of certainty about the truth
	   of a known fact is also an important concept and some way of
	   dealing with uncertainty MUST be provided.

   d)	The system MUST be able to develop self awareness. This is
	   related to autonomy, reasoning and learning, but also
	   embodies the need for internal and external senses. Without
	   these senses there is no way of appreciating the difference
	   between "me" and "outside of me". Sensations of pain and
	   pleasure can provide motivation.
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
			   DEFINITION OF TERMS.

   (see original)


A most interesting and helpful posting!

IMHO paragraphs a and b are non-controversial, but paragraphs c and d
would rule out, say, cats, since reasoning and self awareness in any
non-trivial senses require language.

--
Ben A. Green, Jr.              
greenba@crd.ge.com
  Speaking only for myself, of course.