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From: karl@dartvax.UUCP (S. Delage.)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Can computers think?
Message-ID: <1536@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 12-May-84 08:47:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.1536
Posted: Sat May 12 08:47:42 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 13-May-84 10:17:24 EDT
References: <1698@stolaf.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 19

If a computer had written the article you posted, would it be able to
think?
   Not entirely facetious -- I don't know of computers that would
have been able to do so. Although if Terry Winograd or some such
wanted to, I think [sigh] it would have been possible.
   If a computer can use language in intelligible [and intelligent?]
ways, it seems provincial to say it isn't thinking because of the way
in which it's doing it. In fact, programs today [take operating
systems, for example] are, in a very limited area, intelligent. They
ask people questions, and take appropriate action based on the
answers. It's just that they have a very limited repertoire of
responses.
   At least I think that's what it is.

{cornell,astrovax,decvax,linus,colby}!dartvax!karl
karl@dartmouth