Subj : Back again
To   : KEVIN GIBSON
From : RICHARD M. MEIC
Date : Tue Jul 17 2001 08:07 pm

->  KG>  Would you like to see the posts?  Say yes, please. <g>
-> 
->  RM> You seem to be very anxious to show off your abilities
->  RM> to keep records, so I am forced to oblige you.
-> 
->  No, you're not.

I feel compelled to oblige... better?

->  RM> Show us all the posts in question!   :o)
-> 
->  No.

Just one of them?

->  By the way, what is this? ----->  :o)

IMO, a better, goofier looking one of these ------> :-).

->  It looks like it could be a clown with a big red nose.  :-)

Then let it be a clown.

->  Why did you inquire about the origin of the quote you cited?

At one time I thought it originated from Carl Sagan but I'm not sure... I 
do remember hearing it before the B5 series.  Now it has become somewhat 
of a mystery to me and on top of that I like knowing the sources of the 
quotes I find compelling.

->  What's the appeal?  The significance?

I'm not sure... all I know is that I find the quote compelling.  Perhaps 
if I explore the possible origins I will find out why I find it 
interesting in the process.

->  ( Just looking for another angle. <g> )

Walk around a bit.

->  Remember Dave and Hal of yesteryear?

Yes.  "Will I dream, Dave?"
      "Yes, Hal.  All intelligent beings dream."

->  Haven't seen them around in quite some time.

1) The dream of AI may have been lost for a time.
2) The dream has become a nightmare of possibilities.
3) The dream remains alive in people like you and me.

Nor have I.  It is now 2001 and we are far behind.  Maybe it is a good 
thing.

->  Why can't one test a robot for self-awareness?

A robot can be made to mimic self awareness. I am not convinced that this 
would be self awareness.  But then the same can be said of us.  Are we 
really self aware, or do we mimic it very well.  I doubt we really 
understand what it is in ourselves, so a proper method may not be 
developed that can test it in others.  This was the problem I ran into 
when I first started studying Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks, 
and the reason I brought it up here in the first place.  

Other questions that come to miund right now:
What if I hit upon a self aware program and did not realize it?
What if I was not satisfied and deleted it... would that be murder?
Is it murder when one is unaware of sentience in the thing destroyed?

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