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Path: utzoo!decvax!mcnc!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: mind vs. brain
Message-ID: <910@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 18:54:53 EST
Article-I.D.: mmintl.910
Posted: Wed Dec 18 18:54:53 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 00:52:21 EST
References: <834@mmintl.UUCP> <2452@umcp-cs.UUCP> <866@mmintl.UUCP> <2579@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Distribution: na
Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
Lines: 22

In article <2579@umcp-cs.UUCP> mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) writes:
>In article <866@mmintl.UUCP> franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) writes:
>
>[With reference to my objection to people refering to the brain's "software"]
>
>>Specifically, I think you make a mistake in thinking that the changes to
>>the  neural structure is outside the bounds of what a software description
>>might specify.  The whole point of software is that when executed, it affects
>>the hardware.  I don't think the nature of those effects is presupposed in
>>the concept.
>
>Fine.  Does this really mean that every time I see the word software used
>with respect to the brain, that I can add "The brain's software is not
>necessarily anything like computer software as we know it"?

Every time is perhaps a bit much.  It wouldn't hurt to remind people of it
every once in a while, particularly if they seem to be assuming it is.
So far, I have seen little evidence that the people arguing for AI in this
group are doing so.

Frank Adams                           ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
Multimate International    52 Oakland Ave North    E. Hartford, CT 06108