Path: utzoo!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!itivax!dhw From: dhw@itivax.iti.org (David H. West) Newsgroups: comp.ai Subject: Re: MetaDiscussion on the Chinese Room Style of Argument Keywords: Proof by Vigorous and Repeated Assertion, Invective Utterance Message-ID: <750@itivax.iti.org> Date: 10 Mar 89 17:44:48 GMT References: <4298@pt.cs.cmu.edu> <46028@linus.UUCP> Organization: The Forgotten Legions of ... um ... er ... Lines: 15 In article <46028@linus.UUCP>, bwk@mbunix.mitre.org (Barry W. Kort) writes: > I propose a discussion on the persuasive power of such curious > lines of reasoning as "proof by vigorous assertion", and the > effectivenes of such rhetorical techniques as "invective utterance." > > I wonder if there is a superior method of response besides satire > or silent contempt. Vote for the creation of talk.philosophy.interminable, and then vote that the discussion be moved there. Or comp.ai.red-herrings (an entirely different kettle of fish). The previous set of topics (Chinese rooms, Turing Tests, Symbol Grounding) bears approximately the same relation to AI that Zeno's Paradox bears to automobile engineering. (Think about it.)