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From: alfke@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu (J. Peter Alfke)
Newsgroups: net.ai,net.cog-eng,net.philosophy
Subject: Re: re: Computer Dialogue #1
Message-ID: <272@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
Date: Wed, 19-Mar-86 03:03:39 EST
Article-I.D.: cit-vax.272
Posted: Wed Mar 19 03:03:39 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 05:47:22 EST
References: <676@hounx.UUCP> <386@unirot.UUCP>
Reply-To: alfke@cit-vax.UUCP (J. Peter Alfke)
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Lines: 41
Xref: watmath net.ai:3331 net.cog-eng:625 net.philosophy:4542

Organization : California Institute of Technology
Keywords: 

In article <386@unirot.UUCP> cjr@unirot.UUCP (Charles Riordan) writes:
>Now I understand some of the problems I've been having in dealing
>with computers. I forget that they have feelings to, just like we do.
>Their souls are like on another plane from ours, so like we don't
>hear what their feeling. If only people would recognize that machines
>are people to, then we could like relate to them so much better.

I'm still sitting here trying to figure out if CJ is having a little joke.
I get the feeling, though, that he's serious ... this is somewhat unsettling.

>Some people seem to think it's inappropiate to compare humans and
>machines as Barry has done. They think that we have something like, deep
>within us that machines don't, a soul.

*** FLAME HIGH ***

Some people actually have some level of understanding of computers and
similar horrible scientific doodads.  Some people realize that computers
don't feel emotions any more than toasters do ... Now, CJ, in a
posting elsewhere you've stated that you don't want to learn anything
about science or technology, that it's bad for one to learn these things.
Then why do you still want to talk as though you did know something
about them?

The issue of whether a computer (ANY computer, obviously not the ones we
have today) could ever be made conscious, or be given a "soul", is very
deep; saying that, well gosh, like, obviously computers are, y'know,
just like us only in a far-out space, is trivializing things...

						--Peter Alfke
						  alfke@csvax.caltech.edu
"Who TALKS like that??"
	--Chris Knight
	  in "Real Genius"

PS: If this really is a joke, then please excuse me after laughing at me
    for a few minutes . . . I'm in a grumpy mood, finals week does that
    to one.