The Simulation of Human Intelligence (Wolfson College Lectures) - Softcover

Broadbent, Donald

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0631187332 ISBN 13: 9780631187332

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1992

Synopsis

Debating the philosophical issues of artificial intelligence

Can a computer have an artificial mind? The Simulation of Human Intelligence is a book on a series of lectures, which featured international contributors. The discussions focus on genuine artificial intelligence as the new reality. Parallels between machine and human behavior are outlined in the introduction. Advancements in engineering and computer science are presented as examples of machine progress. Perspectives are also offered from the fields of neuroscience, philosophy and linguistics.

About this title

Synopsis

Recent rapid advances in high-speed computer technology have provided a new reality, an perhaps urgency, to the arguments concerning some of the most basic and long-standing of philosophical issues. If computers can, before too long, achieve a genuine artificial intelligence, then may they not also have artificial minds? In this series of lectures, a distinguished group of international contributors from a variety of disciplines debate the current position. Donald Broadbent's introduction describes the parallels in human and machine behaviour, asserting the value of a scientific approach. Roger Penrose goes on to set the scene by evaluating current claims and issues, supporting a sceptical view. Contributions from Allen Newell, Dana Ballard and Mike Brady present some recent achievements of engineering and computer science, showing just how far machines have come. In his chapter Edmund Rolls offers a perspective from neuroscience and examines how certain cognitive processes (such as memory) can be understood in terms of how the brain itself computes and functions.

From linguistics, Gerald Gazdar considers recent progress in getting computers to handle natural languages (such as English, Japanese, etc) rather than artificial languages. In the final chapter, Margaret Boden assesses the impact on philosophty of the current argument, which hangs on the resolution of a deep philosophical debate about the nature of mind.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0631187332
• ISBN 13: 9780631187332
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 232