(Message from *Zhao Chuan*, excerpts from the Preface of her book on
Intelligence Science)
*
THE FRONTIERS OF INTELLIGENCE SCIENCE*
* *
Intelligence Science is a new science. It is the scientific spirit
applied to thought and mental processes and phenomena; it is an emergent
multidisciplinary direction of research. At the same time, it represents
a long-standing tradition in oriental thought. After the success of
science in grasping the rules of the natural world, and despite many
false starts, science has finally begun to focus on intelligence. Hence
East and West should meet here, Science and Art should meet here, and it
is from here that the new scientific paradigm and a new paradigm for
civilization should evolve.
In ancient times, human beings faced the challenges of existence. After
a long period of evolution, it is the time to go from a survival mode -
how to live better - and now face what A. Feln said: to think better is
the challenge to our integrity. "Know yourself" was the inscription in
the temple of Apollo. It can and should be taken to heart now more than
in any other age. Intelligence Science has been born at the right moment.
Despite all their problems, all sciences are becoming richer and more
successful, above all technological disciplines. The Internet is the
'roof' over the Global Village in which this has taken place. Workers in
the sciences and the humanities are already exchanging information about
their work and also their feelings about their work. Intelligence
Science emerges naturally.
We need to continuously try to face and answer honestly the question:
how can the human factor be recognized and integrated naturally into
science? Science needs rethinking, humanity needs rethinking, the West
and the East need rethinking, so that we can benefit from the richness
of human nature and bear the complexity of human thought. Integration
is not easy, but we must do it. If all civilizations develop, reach
their limits and then fade, contending among themselves, finally they
must fail and destroy each other. Alternatively, the Eastern and Western
civilizations of today could interact more dynamically observing,
understanding and checking each other to form a 'new' civilization that
could go farther. Which alternative will we choose? Intelligence Science
burdens itself with this mission.
From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Intelligence Science (IS) is a
strategic transformation, a major contribution to science. Led by the
Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence ( CAAI), Intelligence
Science was born in October, 2003. Since the first one created in Peking
University, in just the last decade, 27 universities have set up a
Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, and the number should
increase. We can say that IS has now created a new frontier of
knowledge, going from theory to practice and to education. But our task,
the task of this book, is to describe and participate in the research
and development of this still-forming frontier. Poincaré said: "if we
can occasionally enjoy relative tranquility, it is because of the
tenacious struggle of our ancestors. If our vigor, our vigilance relax a
moment, we will lose the fruits that our ancestors gained for us.
There is a poem of Master Hong Yi that can describe this new science: "I
come for the plant/ I leave the flower that has not bloomed yet,/it does
not mean this is not a fine scene,/waiting for later generations." Due
to the interactive changes involving East and West I mentioned above,
our civilization has achieved a high degree of maturity in what is now a
precious wealthy and peaceful age. First we should be thankful for the
great fruits and wisdom which human beings have gained through tenacious
struggle that we have arrived at such a moment and can formulate such
thoughts. Generation by generation, the development of science and
civilization reaches out and transmits them to us. Such a great flower
is just blooming now, and is in its most beautiful period. The end of
the 20th Century is safe, the steps of the 21st Century are smooth and
steady, and the great harmony and the great adventure of human beings
should begin.
"We must know, we will know!" (Wir müssen wissen / Wir werden wissen)
these lines are engraved in the gravestone of the mathematical King
David, David Hilbert. We need to have the same confidence and will. We
should remember the same warning of Lu Xun: "but if you want to have
some rank in culture, you have to be tenacious." At the same time there
is the wisdom of the farmer's proverbs: "In seeding the transplants in
the paddy field, older and younger are both needed" and "when everybody
adds fuel, the flames rise high.". All persons who are concerned about
civilization should optimistically make the effort together to
integrate, to break through, to reach an age of a new quality. Such is
my invitation to you: let us reappraise all of the positive results of
our civilization. Let us take this massive 'seed', and make it sprout
and grow to achieve a higher level of civilization. To open the prelude,
to face dawn, and with this new Intelligence Science create a golden age!
In conclusion, I should explain here that my personal capacities are
limited; I am pressed for time and ask for the comprehension of my
readers. I am not trying to be self-deprecatory; this is just a brief
expression of my inner apprehensions and the heavy tension I am under as
well as of the the excitement I feel at the same time.
Zhao Chuan
November, 2014
PS. The above is taken, with slight modifications, from my Preface to
the book on Intelligence Science that has recently appeared in Chinese.
Many thanks to the list for allowing me to discuss this theme, and many
thanks to all FISers for the great discussions we are having!
-----------------------------
--
-------------------------------------------------
Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA)
Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, planta X
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Tfno. +34 976 71 3526 (& 6818)
pcmarijuan.i...@aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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