Christopher Eliot (eliot@cs.umass.edu)
Mon, 14 Dec 1998 16:27:54 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 16:27:54 -0500 (EST) From: Christopher Eliot <eliot@cs.umass.edu> Subject: Re: [ifets] Re: software human
Bill,
Yes, I believe that computation could have the same insight that humans have.
It could also develop the same desire to "express its spirit".
While I beleive it is possible to create artificial persons, I am not
certain if it is or is not worthwhile. There are quite a few people
and they are quite good at what they do. Building an artificial person
may be a little like digging up Mount Everest and moving it to
Iowa. It could certainly be done if we had enough trucks, but it is
not justified simply "because it is there".
Instead, I expect that any kind of artifical person will (and should)
be developed to complement human abilities and do the things we don't
do well or don't want to do.
I also think learning what would be required to build an artificial
person is worthwhile, even if actually doing it turns out not to be
worthwhile. I think this is one way that humanity can learn more about
what it means to be human. This will make us less mysterious but I don't
think that hurts us.
-Chris Eliot
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