Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!drux3!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uokvax!rigney
From: rigney@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.ai
Subject: Re: Parallelism & Consciousness - (nf)
Message-ID: <3711@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Nov-83 23:02:53 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3711
Posted: Tue Nov  8 23:02:53 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Nov-83 22:20:47 EST
Lines: 41

#R:sri-arpa:-1309400:uokvax:900005:000:1727
uokvax!rigney    Nov  3 08:45:00 1983

Perhaps something on the order of "Intelligence enhances survivability
through modification of the environment" is in order.  By modification
something other than the mere changes brought about by living is indicated
(i.e. Rise in CO2 levels, etc. doesn't count).

Thus, if Turtles were intelligent, they would kill the baby rabbits, but
they would also attempt to modify the highway to present less of a hazard.

Problems with this viewpoint:

	1) It may be confusing Technology with Intelligence.  Still, tool
	making ability has always been a good sign.

	2) Making the distinction between Intelligent modifications and
	the effect of just being there.  Since "conscious modification"
	lands us in a bigger pit of worms than we're in now, perhaps a
	distinction should be drawn between reactive behavior (reacting
	and/or adapting to changes) and active behavior (initiating
	changes).  Initiative is therefore a factor.

	3) Monkeys make tools(Antsticks), Dolphins don't.  Is this an
	indication of intelligence, or just a side-effect of Monkeys
	having hands and Dolphins not?  In other words, does Intelligence
	go away if the organism doesn't have the means of modifying
	its environment?  Perhaps "potential" ability qualifies.  Or
	we shouldn't consider specific instances (Is a man trapped in
	a desert still intelligent, even if he has no way to modify
	his environment.)
	   Does this mean that if you had a computer with AI, and 
	stripped its peripherals, it would lose intelligence?  Are
	human autistics intelligent?  Or are we only considering 
	species, and not representatives of species?

In the hopes that this has added fuel to the discussion,

		Carl
		..!ctvax!uokvax!rigney
		..!duke!uok!uokvax!rigney