cogito ergo sum
Rene Descartes' (1596 -1650 )
His philosophical system of thought was based on the fundamental idea : cogito ergo sum (I think therefore I am) which grew out of the notion that there is a basic division between mind and matter.
Consciousness seems to me to be such an important phenomenon that I simply cannot believe that it is something just 'accidentally' conjured up by a complicated computation. It is the phenomenon whereby the universe's very existence is made known.
Some of the arguments that I have given is these chapters may seem tortuous and complicated. Some are admittedly speculative, whereas I believe that there is no real escape from some of the others. Yet beneath all this technicality is the feeling that it is indeed 'obvious' that the conscious mind cannot work like a computer, even though much of what is actually involved in mental activity might do so.
The Emperor's New Mind
Roger Penrose
What Penrose seems to be saying is that the manipulations of 1's and 0's that are at the heart of computer calculations do not constitute what we understand as consciousness, no matter the speed of the processors or the aggregate number of them. Penrose, a world-renowned physicist, is on solid ground! In part, he bases his opinion on the fact that the Mind lives in the world of quantum mechanics which is very different than the classical, deterministic world of today's digital computers.
We have by now, fairly substantial evidence that one of the components of the mind/brain is a language faculty, dedicated to language and its use - where by "language," now, we mean human language, not various metaphoric extensions of the term.
Noam Chomsky
Chomsky believes that A child is supposed to be biologically endowed with a universal grammar (UG), which consists of a limited number of principles and parameters.
The following concepts will be be critical in discussions throughout this course.
Semantics or Content:
The underlying "real world meaning" of computer data.
Syntax or Grammar
The underlying structure of, and rules for, manipulating computer data.
Basically, computers process Syntax. Give them a set of data points and formal rules(programs) for manipulating that data and they are ready to do their job. Humans are responsible for the Semantics, the meaning, of the data and rules. For example, consider a Web search for "Java." As expected, I get lots of references for the programming language, some for coffee, and for the island in the Pacific which is the actual target of the search. Trying again, I search for ' "Java" and "Island" ' Among other links, I get:
The Hot Java K@fe, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Island Design Lemur - the 100% pure Java IDE for Java. www.island-design.co.uk
Daytradingstocks.com Java Island Book Viewer
Island Java MAP!! Addison Coffeehouses Island Java 947 W. Addison Chicago Tel: (773) 525-0299 Small commuter cafe located directly under the Addison el stop has magazines and games, as well as occasional live music. Try the chocolate chip/macadamia nut... www.centerstage.net
and even
Madura , Island of Charm; North of Java-Indonesia : Map Culture,Legend,Population,Tourism & Images Madura is an island on North of East-java Indonesia, have a Unique Culture www.eastjava.com
In fact of the first twenty five references, the only three of real interest were the one above and the following:
Island of Java Island of Java The island of Java (8.0S, 112.0E) illustrates a tectonic feature called an island arc. An island arc is a set of volcanoes that grow above a subduction zone. The volcanoes grow from the sea floor to many thousands of feet above sea... volcano.und.nodak.edu
WaliSongo Pilgrimage : The Java Island's First Muslim Missionaries : Nine Saints of Islam Another of Indonesia's hidden treasures; The Java island's first Muslim missionaries, who have come to be known as the Wali Songo, or 'Nine Saints of Islam www.walisongo.com
Interestingly, a search on "Java" and "Island" and "Pacific" ' lost all three of the above links, but among many good links, returned:
Island Time Computer Links Island Time: Computing Last revision: 13 April 1997 General HardWare SoftWare Java Books Links New @ IT Island Time HP It has proven impossible to keep this current. So, has been reduced to those sites which I personally find the most useful & have. www.camanoisland.com
NWS Portland National Weather Service forecasts and warnings for the Pacific NW and around U.S. nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov
What is the difficulty?
I am searching for "data" and not "content".