Re: Lewontin reviews Steven Rose's latest book on the brain

[ravi <gadfly@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wednesday 16 March 2005 12:04 pm, Charles Brown wrote:
> is there a reason why a network of computers cannot exhibit similar
> characteristics? (and now we can link this thread to jimD's godel
> one! ;-)).
>
>         --ravi
>
> ^^^^^
> CB: So far, except in a Matrix fantasy, it takes extensive human mediation
> to plug computers into culture. It's like chimps can learn some language,
> but no chimps have learned sign language on their own initiative. There is
> lots of human intervention when chimps learn language.
>
> I can't state an abstract principle as to why a Matrix couldn't be realized
> in real life.
>

i do not see it as the equivalent of matrix, where a virtual reality is
created and maintained. but if you are a materialist, a human is no different
from a computer. we may have been programmed by nature while computers may
need programming by us. nonetheless, if a finite mass (the human population)
can exhibit certain traits, why not some other finite mass?

        --ravi