Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!mcvax!hp4nl!maestro!fransvo
From: fransvo@maestro.htsa.aha.nl (Frans van Otten)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Free will and responsibility.
Keywords: Observer, Feedback Loop, Values, Goals, Caring
Message-ID: <881@maestro.htsa.aha.nl>
Date: 8 May 89 09:23:44 GMT
References: <10333@ihlpb.ATT.COM> <3850@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <387@nbires.nbi.com> <17754@cup.portal.com> <52019@linus.UUCP>
Reply-To: fransvo@htsa.UUCP (Frans van Otten)
Organization: AHA-TMF (Technical Institute), Amsterdam The Netherlands
Lines: 18

Barry Kort writes:

>[controlling a system requires...] that the output of the system
>must be observable. ...  Try driving a car blindfolded.  If you
>cannot see the output of the system, you cannot control it.

In general, I agree with this.  But if you have a very accurate map,
and if there is noone else around, you can drive anywhere you want,
even if you can't see the world in which you are driving, or feel the
motions of the car.  You don't need to see or feel anything: you can
calculate exactly what will happen when you perform a controlling
action, like turning the steering wheel.  Or is the driving not
called "controlling" in this case ?
-- 
	Frans van Otten
	Algemene Hogeschool Amsterdam
	Technische en Maritieme Faculteit
	fransvo@htsa.uucp