Author: Djordje Vidanovic
Date: 13:35:41 04/06/00
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On April 06, 2000 at 16:10:02, Mike S. wrote: >On April 05, 2000 at 20:41:02, Djordje Vidanovic wrote: > >>(...) chess in its essence is but a >>logical game where you should play (against) positions (if you are interested >>in the beauty of logic) and not care too much who sits opposite you. (...) >>Playing a computer program is playing chess, isn't it? > >I share your opinion. Furthermore, it seems obvious to me that a computer system >which runs a chess program, is a *chess player*. Therefore, it should be given >all the rights and should have all the possibilities, a chess player has. > >It is very hard for me to understand, why seemingly a majority of people (who >are interested in computer chess even!) cannot share this viewpoint and want to >establish, or continue, a kind of "apartheid". > >It is also important to notice, that when a computer program is banned (or comps >in general), that in fact this affects the people who have programmed it or >contributed otherwise. After all, chess computers are not something which came >from outer space like aliens - they are made by humans. Banning computers means >banning them. > >Regards, >M.Scheidl Thanks for your effort to understand my viewpoint. You contributed to it significantly by your reminder that programs are actually made by human minds, containing descriptions of chess as different programmers see it. Understood this way, it means that Frans Morsch, Christophe Theron, Ed Schoeder, David Kittinger, Bob Hyatt, Christian Barreteau, John Stanback, et al., are all highly successful coaches and mentors -- teaching their proteges the intricacies of chess. Just like you, I cannot understand so many computer chess fans who oppose the participation of chess programs in tournaments against humans. Aren't they interested in determining the quality of the programs (i.e. the quality of different descriptions of the chess game) written by different authors? And, finally, isn't a good chess program simply a good and succint description of the game of chess written by a fellow human being? Chess existing in a different modality, perhaps equating a digital handbook on chess? Some sort of digital counterpart of a comprehensive treatment of the royal game? A digital coach, trainer, player, what not? Chess is chess, whoever (or whatever) plays it. Chess is not some sort of protoplasma, being singularly defined by its substance and belonging exclusively to humans. It is form, logical form above all, and as such it transcends substance. It can be psychological warfare, of course, (this being only incidental) but that does not dispose of the fact that it is primarily a game of logic. *** Djordje
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