Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!wdl1.wdl.loral.com!wdl1!mikeb From: mikeb@wdl35.wdl.loral.com (Michael H Bender) Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy Subject: Re: AI - the real problem Message-ID: Date: 7 Feb 91 22:40:48 GMT References: <22951@well.sf.ca.us> <3035@yarra-glen.aaii.oz.au> Sender: news@wdl1.wdl.loral.com Distribution: comp Organization: Ford Aerospace, Western Development Laboratories Lines: 30 In-Reply-To: dnk@yarra-glen.aaii.oz.au's message of 4 Feb 91 05:24:41 GMT David Kinny writes: What is it that leads you to believe that introspection is one of the greatest sources of information about our cognitive processes? .... (many intelligent and relevant comments deleted) ... If we could understand the workings of a lizard mind it would be a major step towards understanding human cognitive processes. Because it is the only REAL source I/you/we have when it comes to our higher level cognitive processes (e.g., consciousness). Laboratory experiments can measure many different things, but they CANNOT reliably measure consciousness. I believe that consciousness is important. For instance, you mention vision and I admit that there has been excellent neurological research in that area. However, this doesn't change the fact that we can CONSCIOUSLY control what we look at, even consciously ignore items that are designed to attract our attention (something that lizards might find it hard to do). No AI system that ignores this ability for conscious control will be worth its beans (or, should I say, worth its vision?). I honestly do believe that there is a valid reason for trying to understand the workings of a lizard, however I also believe that there is also a very valid reason for introspection and understanding of conscious cognitive processes. Although somewhat looked down upon currently, it is likely that expert system technology grew out of this type of research. Mike Bender