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From: marty1@houdi.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Goal of AI: where are we going?
Message-ID: <1330@houdi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Oct-87 14:36:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: houdi.1330
Posted: Thu Oct  1 14:36:20 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Oct-87 05:59:39 EDT
References: <178@usl> <549@csm9a.UUCP> <270@uwslh.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 39
Summary: The human mind and hand are not perfect tools, but the ultimate tools

In article <270@uwslh.UUCP>, lishka@uwslh.UUCP (Christopher Lishka) writes:
> ***Warning: FLAME ON***
> 
> In article <549@csm9a.UUCP> bware@csm9a.UUCP (Bob Ware) writes:
> >>We all admit that the human mind is not flawless.  Bias decisions...
>   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> The expression "we all" does not apply to me, at very least.  Some of
> us (at least myself)like to believe that the human mind should not be
> considered to be either flawed or flawless...it only "is."  ....

Some interesting points here.

Point one, the human mind is in fact a phenomenon, and phenomena are
neither flawed nor perfect, they are the stuff that observation is made
of.  Score one for Lishka.

Point two, we keep using the human mind as a tool, to solve problems. 
As such, it is not merely a phenomenon, but a means to an end, and is
subject to judgments of its utility for that purpose.  Now we can say
whether it is perfect or flawed.  Obviously, it is not perfect, since
we often make mistakes when we use it.  Score one for Ware.

Point three, when we try to make better tools, or tools to supplement
the human mind, all these improvements are created by the human mind. 
In fact, the purposes of these tools are created by the human mind. 
The human mind is thus the ultimate reasoning tool. Score one for the
human mind.

You might say the same of the human hand.  As a phenomenon, it exists.
As a tool, it is imperfect.  And it is the ultimate mechanical tool,
since all mechanical tools are directly or indirectly made by it.

It is from these multiple standpoints that we derive the multiple goals
of AI: to study the mind, to supplement the mind, and to serve the mind.

M. B. Brilliant					Marty
AT&T-BL HO 3D-520	(201)-949-1858
Holmdel, NJ 07733	ihnp4!houdi!marty1