Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watdragon!violet!cpshelley
From: cpshelley@violet.uwaterloo.ca (cameron shelley)
Subject: Re: computer life?
Message-ID: <1991Feb21.043038.26338@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu (Owner of Many System Processes)
Organization: University of Waterloo
References: <1991Feb14.135220.7790@vax1.tcd.ie>
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 1991 04:30:38 GMT
Lines: 37

In article <1991Feb14.135220.7790@vax1.tcd.ie> bjkinane@vax1.tcd.ie writes:
>I am preparing a presentation on the subject of whether computers can be
>considered as an emerging life-form at a very primitive stage of evolution and
>on the future implications of this for mankind . I would welcome any views on
>this area.

Hmmm.  You should also consider exactly what you mean by "evolution".
Natural evolution could be looked on (in a simplified sense) as a
recursive loop: beginning with birth, proceding through life, and
death -- with sexual reproduction as the recursive step, spawning
the next generation.  As with all loops, it has an invariant: randomized
mutation of the genetic code takes place at each repetition (if I may
be allowed to call null a random change occasionally).  Recombination 
from two different sources doesn't hurt either.  It must be noted 
however that, unlike loops in most programs, the invariant is not 
controlled enough to close the resulting class; meaning that new 
species emerge from the process.

In artificial evolution, such as the ongoing engineering of computers,
it is questionable whether the invariant (change with generation) is
random enough to open the result class as in natural evolution.  The
argument still holds, I think, even if you consider "computers" to
mean not species but genera, order, or kingdom.  I personally can't
think of any counter-examples, but it would be interesting if anyone
could present a good one.

Btw, I'm aware not all life reproduces this way, but this seems to
be the most relevant point of comparison.  You might wish to consider
other paradigms than evolution, an essentially undirected process.

				Cam

--
      Cameron Shelley        | "Absurdity, n.  A statement of belief
cpshelley@violet.waterloo.edu|  manifestly inconsistent with one's own
    Davis Centre Rm 2136     |  opinion."
 Phone (519) 885-1211 x3390  |				Ambrose Bierce