Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!enuxha!coven From: coven@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (H. Justin Coven) Newsgroups: comp.ai Subject: Re: AI genealogy Summary: political monopolies Keywords: genealogy Message-ID: <2576@enuxha.eas.asu.edu> Date: 13 Mar 91 00:32:08 GMT References: Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Lines: 32 In article , velasco@mangani.ucsd.edu (Gabriel Velasco) writes: > coven@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (H. Justin Coven) writes: > > > >I certainly hope there are many who have ideas from places > >other than their advisors, otherwise we are a rather slow witted bunch. > > We think that it is an evolutionary process. These ideas from the > non-slow-witted may take the form of mutations of the ideas from their > advisors. I think that your advisor hopes that s/he has had or will > have a positive influence in your education. I also think that your > advisor would like you to go beyond what s/he has done, but I'll bet > you use a lot of the same words. If for no other reason than the > convenience of being able to talk to each other without confusion. > We obviously disagree about the amount of novelty and creativity that is evident in doing research. The best kind of advisor is one which fosters in their students creativity seperate from their own. The History of science, the study of word useage and the development of a refenence database are all very valuable areas of research, and I encourage you in developing your work here. However in the history of science and politics groups connected politically and by blood have typically formed powerful monopolies upon the resources of a community. Focusig upon genealogy can only stregthen this terrible stereotype. Justin Coven Arizona State University coven@enuxva.eas.asu.edu