Author: Matthew Hull
Date: 12:53:08 08/05/02
Go up one level in this thread
On August 05, 2002 at 11:10:55, Terry McCracken wrote: >Do computers make decisions? >If so, what is your definition of a "computer decision" and how it relates and >differs from human decisions? > >Please cite examples. This can be from chess to any area of so-called "machine >intelligence", please give _your_ answers, as well as information that can be >obtained on the net. > >Your help with these answers will be greatly appreciated! > >Thanks in Advance. > >Regards, > Terry McCracken I'm not an expert, but I found Roger Penrose's book _Ther_Emperor's_New_Mind_ a compelling treatise on this very subject. Based on the proofs provided in the book, I would say that Turing machines decide nothing. That's not to say that programs cannot provide approximate solutions for games like chess, but to me, a solution is not a decision, any more than IF-THEN-ELSE is a decision rather. From a different angle, I guess it's also like the Calvinist debate. If you are "free" to make the decision, then it is. If you are compelled to make the decision, then it's not a decision. Programs really have no choice. Regards, Matt
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.