X-Message-Number: 25095 Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:40:11 -0500 From: Francois <> Subject: For Thomas Donaldson, computers, programs, brains You have many times stated that a computer program behaving like a human mind would need to "run" on some sort of hardware very much like a living brain, because a brain is not like a computer. It can grow new connexions and cull away old ones, reshaping its "circuitry" as it goes. That is very true. However, I think that the whole thing could be programmed in pure software, changing connexions and all. Simpler systems have already made this transition. When neural nets were first studied, they were hardware systems, made up of simple electronic modules linked with physical wires. Later, these systems were modeled in software and became purely virtual devices, yet their behaviors were not affected. A hardware neural net capable of recognizing printed lettres was just as capable of doing the same thing in its virtual form. It therefore may be possible to program a virtual brain that would exist only in pure software form. Just like a virtual neural net displays all the behaviors of its hardware counterpart, a virtual brain would display all the behaviors we'd expect from a real flesh and blood one. It would only need to be connected to the outside world through some interface that would provide it with senses and mobility. It could, for instance, read or write letters very similar to this one, create novels, paintings, tell jokes, enjoy a sunset, form and recall memories, express feelings, etc. Would it, however, actually experience those feelings? Would it be a self aware, feeling, thinking person or would it only be a very good automaton mimicking those behaviors? And would it be possible for an outside observer to definitlely decide between the two possibilities? Francois The Devil fears those who learn more than those who pray Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25095