Allow Nick to say "a computer behaves as if it is thinking, therefore it is 
thinking."

How does a computer behave? Or, what is a computer's behavior? I am looking at 
my computer - actually four of them (iPhone, tablet, laptop, and desktop) and 
the only behavior I see any of them exhibiting is precisely identical to the 
behavior of the glass paperweight that also occupies space on my desk.

What is this thinking behavior y'all are ascribing to the computer? Am I the 
only one that cannot see it?

davew


On Mon, May 4, 2020, at 9:34 PM, thompnicks...@gmail.com wrote:
> Yup. That’s what he would say. What **persuades** you that a super competent 
> computer can’t think? Can a dog think? How would a Martian convince you that 
> it (he, she) can think? 

> 

> Nick

> 

> Nicholas Thompson

> Emeritus Professor of Ethology and Psychology

> Clark University

> thompnicks...@gmail.com

> https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/

> 

> 

> 


> *From:* Friam <friam-boun...@redfish.com> *On Behalf Of *Frank Wimberly
> *Sent:* Monday, May 4, 2020 9:08 PM
> *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <friam@redfish.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Warring Darwinians for Glen, Steve

> 

> Maybe I missed something that makes this redundant but if a highschool 
> student asked me what the *hard problem* is I would say: There appears to be 
> no limit to how competent computers can be. They seem to be able to do just 
> about anything that people think requires thought. But I am persuaded that 
> they can't think. What makes the difference between thinking people and 
> hypercompetent computers? 

> 

> Nick would say if it behaves as if it thinks then it thinks. I think.

> 

> Frank

> 

> On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 7:50 PM Steven A Smith <sasm...@swcp.com> wrote:


>> I thought this was a support group for recovering (or just
>> self-indulgent) metaphorists... you mean it's not? Why do I feel like
>> I'm in a scene from "Fight Club"? I guess that would make me more of
>> an allegorist?
>> 
>> > Is it? You people can't help yourselves. It's compulsive. You might want 
>> > to get some help for that.
>> >
>> > On 5/4/20 10:47 AM, Frank Wimberly wrote:
>> >> Choosing one's rifle is so concrete. It makes me want to run out and blow 
>> >> away a few cacti. Oh, it's a metaphor!
>> 
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> 

> 

> --


> Frank Wimberly
> 140 Calle Ojo Feliz
> Santa Fe, NM 87505
> 505 670-9918

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