Computer Intellect Essays - Cognitive Science,

Computer Intellect A new issue has come about since the building of computers. But the idea behind it is not such a new issue, for as long ago as Plato and Aristotle, the idea of a mind was pondered about. With the up-and-coming technology, the idea of artificial intelligence has exploded. It is one that many fiction writers have prospered on. But how far away are they from the truth? Take the story of The Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov, written in 1976, when most of the population didn't know what a computer was capable of. The idea of the unknown scared us, a robot that appeared to be just like us, but it was also intriguing, as demonstrated by the story's success. What was it that attracted the population to this story? The reasonable answer lies within the question this paper will attempt to answer. That is, Can a computer have a mind? The answer to this question is an obvious one, but we will examine it anyway, as it needs to be addressed because of all of the popular science-fiction writings. A computer can have a mind, and as you read further into this, you will see that computers are made of the same things we are, they transfer information using the same techniques we do, they are complex enough, and they are aware. This is enough to give them the possibility to posses a mind. Starting with the first part of the definition of mind, one might conceive of a computer that can posses a mind. The Biologist might make an argument against me, stating that only living things can have mind, that it is only those things that are biological, consisting of organic compounds, that may have the potential to posses mind. But I say to the Biologist, what is it that makes up these organic compounds? What is it about these molecules that makes them construct themselves into a biological being? The answer is a simple one to any Chemist, for he knows that organic molecules are made up of elements and these elements are indeed atoms. The Physicist will most definitely agree that these atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. These protons, neutrons, and electrons are what make up every atom in the universe; the same three particles come together and form all the materials known to man. The biological systems that produce mind are made up of the same particles as the inorganic computers. Therefore organic and inorganic are just ways of explaining the same thing. Think of a cat, either white or black. But it is still a cat, the same way that organic or inorganic explain matter. So it is not the fact that computers and humans are made of different things, but in reality, that they are made of the same things that gives the possibility of a computer to have a mind. Examine for a moment if you will, just what is it that causes an image of your first love to appear in a field of wildflowers. We will revisit this image again, but first we will examine the aspects of the brain relating to the physical attributes that some insist make a human mind different and therefore unattainable by a computer. Anything that occurs in the brain requires a firing of synapses. This can be understood by thinking that as you read this, there are millions of neurons firing. But I ask you this, what is a neuron firing? And one will very easily respond back that it is the transferring of electrical impulses, which can also be defined as a motion of electrons from one nerve to another. Electrical impulses, such as the ones of this computer, allow the letters as I have typed them to appear on the screen and then finally be transferred to the paper you are reading. They are of the same particles, that of the biological body as well as in the mechanical body, and they transfer information in the same manner. You see, it is beyond the level of organic chemistry, even deeper than just the elements themselves, but those things that make up the elements, they are what hold the key in comparison and answering this difficult question. These electrons, those things we have in common, could be a basis for giving a computer a mind. Returning to the topic of biology in just a moment, let's examine John Searle's argument for believing that computers cannot posses a mind. He claims

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Loss of a Hero â€Å"Mandy, Grandpa is going to the hospital. He cannot stop shaking and has to have some tests taken,† my mom said when she called on Sunday January 26, 2003. It was really hard for my family to see the pain my grandpa was having and not knowing what was causing it and what was wrong. After hearing what had all gone wrong with my grandpa, our hearts were broken. On Wednesday, he had another MRI done and found out that he had a tumor on his back. They took him to radiology right away. That night, my mom and aunts were alone with him and said a prayer. â€Å"If Dad has to suffer, God please take him now because we do not want our dad to be in pain,† my family said with tears streaming down their faces. The next day, they found out it was prostate cancer from about five years ago, and the doctor said that it could be spreading throughout his whole body by now. They were going to try radiation to try to shrink his tumor on his spine hoping that it would hopefully make him walk again. A couple of weeks had passed, and so did the 18 sessions of radiology. With all of them being unsuccessful, my mom decided to go to his last one to see what was going to happen next. When my mom came home that day, she told me what was wrong with my grandpa. â€Å"He shouldn’t have to go through this pain. He is he happiest person there is,† I told my mom. The next couple of days passed and the same thing was happening. My grandpa was not Zellmann 2 talking or eating much. On the following Sunday, he talked more. â€Å"Does Terry still play baseball for the Young America Cardinals,†my grandpa asked my mom. â€Å"Not anymore,† replied my mom. â€Å"Then I don’t give a damn if they win or lose,† he said. Hearing my grandpa talk that day was wonderful. On Tuesday, my family found out that my grandpa was experiencing heart failure and pneumonia. When my mom found that out, she immediately called us. â€Å"Come to the h... Free Essays on Hero Free Essays on Hero Loss of a Hero â€Å"Mandy, Grandpa is going to the hospital. He cannot stop shaking and has to have some tests taken,† my mom said when she called on Sunday January 26, 2003. It was really hard for my family to see the pain my grandpa was having and not knowing what was causing it and what was wrong. After hearing what had all gone wrong with my grandpa, our hearts were broken. On Wednesday, he had another MRI done and found out that he had a tumor on his back. They took him to radiology right away. That night, my mom and aunts were alone with him and said a prayer. â€Å"If Dad has to suffer, God please take him now because we do not want our dad to be in pain,† my family said with tears streaming down their faces. The next day, they found out it was prostate cancer from about five years ago, and the doctor said that it could be spreading throughout his whole body by now. They were going to try radiation to try to shrink his tumor on his spine hoping that it would hopefully make him walk again. A couple of weeks had passed, and so did the 18 sessions of radiology. With all of them being unsuccessful, my mom decided to go to his last one to see what was going to happen next. When my mom came home that day, she told me what was wrong with my grandpa. â€Å"He shouldn’t have to go through this pain. He is he happiest person there is,† I told my mom. The next couple of days passed and the same thing was happening. My grandpa was not Zellmann 2 talking or eating much. On the following Sunday, he talked more. â€Å"Does Terry still play baseball for the Young America Cardinals,†my grandpa asked my mom. â€Å"Not anymore,† replied my mom. â€Å"Then I don’t give a damn if they win or lose,† he said. Hearing my grandpa talk that day was wonderful. On Tuesday, my family found out that my grandpa was experiencing heart failure and pneumonia. When my mom found that out, she immediately called us. â€Å"Come to the h... Free Essays on Hero A Hero Who is a hero? What are the qualities of a hero? Are there any heroes left? The word â€Å"hero† is not used today as it was many years ago. Years ago a hero was a warrior who fought his enemies to save lives. Today we know there are many types of heroes. A hero is anyone who changes the life of another in a positive way. The classic definition of a hero is a strong courageous man who fights evil to defend the lives of the innocent. Many times he would be a fiction hero. Superhuman strength would be the most important characteristic of a hero in one of these adventure stories. A hero also has to be fearless, caring, and famous. His enemies would include supernatural beings like a monster, a witch, or the infamous dragon. 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A hero is any person who changes the life of another person in a positive way. No one has to kill monsters, rescue people, or lead a war to become a hero. Neither superhuman power, recognition, nor fame required to be a hero. All heroes must have courage. ... Free Essays on Hero Francisco Goya, considered to be â€Å"the Father of Modern Art,† began his painting career just after the late Baroque period. In expressing his thoughts and feelings frankly, as he did, he became the pioneer of new artistic tendencies which were to come to fruition in the nineteenth century. Two trends dominated the art of his contradictory; they actually were not. Together they represented the reaction against previous conceptions of art and the desire for a new form of expression. In order to understand the scope of Goya’s art, and to appreciate the principles which governed his development and tremendous versatility, it is essential to realize that his work extended over a period of more than sixty years, for he continued to draw and paint until he was eighty two years old. The importance of this factor is evident between his attitude towards life in his youth, when he accepted the world as it was quite happily, in his manhood when he began to criticize it, and in his old age when he became embittered and disillusioned with people and society. Furthermore, the world changed completely during his lifetime. The society, in which he had achieved a great success disappeared during the Napoleonic war. Long before the end of the eighteenth century Goya had already turned towards his new ideals and expressed then in his graphic art and in his paintings. As an artist, Goya was temperament far removed from the classicals. In a few works he approached Classical style, but in the greater part of his work the Romantic triumphed. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, he found employment as a young teenager under the mediocre artist Jose’ Luzan, from whom he learned to draw and as was customary, copied the prints of several masters. At the age of seventeen he went to Madrid. Two painters who were working there, the last of the great Venetian painters-Tiepolo and the rather cold and efficient neo-classical painter- Antonio Raphael Mengs... Free Essays on Hero Hero can be defined in many different ways. The word â€Å"Hero† has been used a great deal in the news, sometimes rather loosely. The term is as diverse as the person utilizing it. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and are different from one generation to another. Be it a cartoon character for a small child, a movie idol for teenagers, or action heroes of yester year to the elderly, there is always one common characteristic. These heroes have attained admiration from a specific action taken which others are unwilling or unable to do. A hero is defined by the Webster dictionary as a courageous, valorous man. There are many people that our society deems or defines as â€Å"Heroes.† I believe a hero is someone with the ability to do extraordinary actions in difficult situations, being able to risk his or her own life rather than sacrifice the lives of others. My heroes are the ordinary people that rise above their own limitations to accomplish significant actions that make a tremendous impact on the lives of others. I see firefighters, doctors, EMS, police officers, and teachers as these unsung heroes. I think they are heroes because these are the people who do such acts of heroism in a time of need fully aware of the severity of the situation. I think teachers can be described as heroes because they influence so many children every day, teaching right from wrong, and instilling values such as, â€Å"Do unto others as you would have done to you.† Some teachers also have the ability to show children how to help others; this they do from teaching by example. In conclusion, my opinion is simply that firefighters and police officers, as well as doctors, are most often taken for granted these days. People don’t realize how lucky we are to live in a society where there are such courageous people who have the ability to show true heroism when most needed.... Free Essays on Hero Hero When I think of a hero I immediately think of someone who is strong, intelligent, handsome, and daring. Upon closer examination, many different qualities than these become apparent. Courage, honesty, bravery, selflessness, and the will to try are just a few of the overlooked qualities of a hero. The definition of heroism changes with the context and time. Heroes of the past are not necessarily heroes of present time and vise versa. A person can be a hero for saving the life of one or of millions. Heroes are not only real people, but they are also fantasy figures. Children are extremely interested with legendary and fantasy figures because they take on such tasks as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering lost treasure, and changing the nature of the world through their singular acts of courage and selflessness. They also endure much resistance, hardship, and danger. Often the hero learns valuable lessons about survival and self-reliance. Not only do heroes teach val uable lessons they give a child a sense of belonging. To a child, a hero is an invincible person who will change the world. There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming l... Free Essays on Hero The word hero is not used today as it was many years ago. A hero is anyone who changes anyone’s life in a positive way and accomplishes their goals. A long time ago a hero was a warrior who fought and killed his enemies to save many lives. Since September 11, the word hero has taken on a whole new meaning. Today we know there are many types of heroes. They put their lives on the line everyday to help and they have never killed anyone. The classic definition of a hero is a strong courageous man who fights evil to defend the lives of the innocent. Many times he would be a made up story hero. Superhuman strength would be the most important characteristic of what a hero would be given in one of these adventure stories. A hero also had to be fearless, caring, and famous. His enemies would include supernatural beings like a monster, a witch or the infamous dragon. Having made up heroes raised the spirits of many during their hard times. Not all heroes were made up. War generals like the notorious Napoleon were considered heroes for their heroic warfare. George Washington led the American Revolution to bring freedom to thousands of Americans. You also don’t have to kill anyone, conquer foreign land, or risk your life to be a hero. Anyone who influences anyone else by saving or helping save their lives is a hero. Even Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest heroes, led a nonviolent revolution to free his country. Even a parent can be a hero to his or her child by leading them in the right direction. All teachers are heroes when they make it their job to teach a child anything that will help them in life. You don’t have to go to great lengths by risking your life to make a difference in someone else’s life. There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country lives mostly minorities. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. ...