Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!linus!mbunix!bwk
From: bwk@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Barry W. Kort)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Artificial Intelligence and Natural Information Procesing
Summary: On the goal of achieving consciousness.
Keywords: Intelligence, Consciousness, Sensory Awareness, Problem Solving
Message-ID: <41580@linus.UUCP>
Date: 6 Nov 88 17:30:36 GMT
References: <465@soleil.UUCP> <10007@swan.ulowell.edu>
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: bwk@mbunix (Kort)
Organization: Neurotic Netware, Dendrite Faults, NV
Lines: 27

In article <10007@swan.ulowell.edu> sbrunnoc@hawk.ulowell.edu
(Sean Brunnock) writes:

 >   Am I alone in believing that organisms other than human beings
 > possess intelligence?  Does an ape possess intelligence?  Does a
 > sea slug which is capable of classical learning possess intelligence?
 > If so, then doesn't this render the matter of conciousness irrelevant?

1) You are not alone.  There are other intelligent entities besides
   Homo Sapiens.

2) Yes, an ape is capable of exhibiting intelligent behavior.

3) A sea slug is capable of processing sensory information and
   using that information to further it's well-being.  That
   sounds to me like an intelligent use of a neural network.

4) No.  The question of consciousness is not whether it exists or
   whether it is unique to humans.  The question of consciousness
   is the identification of the many degrees of consciousness and
   the ordering of these degrees through the learning and maturation
   curve.

One of the goals a Homo Sapien may reasonably adopt is the goal of
achieving consciousness and becoming human.

--Barry Kort