Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!ames!amdcad!sun!imagen!atari!portal!cup.portal.com!tony_mak_makonnen From: tony_mak_makonnen@cup.portal.com Newsgroups: comp.ai Subject: Re: Flawed human minds Message-ID: <995@cup.portal.com> Date: Sat, 17-Oct-87 04:52:56 EDT Article-I.D.: cup.995 Posted: Sat Oct 17 04:52:56 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Oct-87 12:10:05 EDT References: <270@uwslh.UUCP> <15196@topaz.rutgers.edu> <1368@houdi.UUCP> <331@odyssey.ATT.COM> <1377@houdi.UUCP> Organization: The Portal System (TM) Lines: 25 XPortal-User-Id: 1.1001.1780 There is strange and profound truth to the following statements All the universe is the brain All you know is the mind The second statement is more daring than the first . It is necessitated by the need to posit something that is more than the physical parts of brain . Assume a completely isolated , closed system capable of reflection . I submit that such a thinking thing could not posit a essential flaw in its make up .We see here many individual manifestations of mind talking about flaws that one can only assume must be attributed to the brain .What is that which stands back and reflects on the flawed function of that very instrument without which it would be a "null"in this universe ? Can we call it "I" or "mind" . But then some seem to posit other "I"s than can stand back and look at the first "Iand so on . Very confusing once we leave the safety of behavioral psych . What seems to the morale at this point ? Accept the obvious fact that the brain is not very efficient at calculative functions , and the equally true fact that it is capable of creating machines That can do that much better . Forget about the other abstract stuff . This mind knows the limts of some brain functions and compensates for them . It has so far proved adequate for the primary directive "the survival of the species and life " . I submit to the members of this jury that we cannot yet say that it is flawed . However should we reach the ultimate folly of self destruction then only the absence of an audience and judge will prevent a definitive verdict .