Human beings rely upon their brethren, and are frequently disappointed by them. These are advantages to machines: reliability and a complete lack of guile. They can also be disadvantages.
- Erasmus
Reflections on Sentient Biologicals
(The Butlerian Jihad, p. 610)
Erasmus is learning. This is an interesting observation as it points out that reliability and lack of guile are both advantages and disadvantages. Finding myself to be very reliable and, for the most part, a complete lack of guile, I can vouch for the fact that these are both advantageous, and even admirable, characteristics while there are times that these characteristics are certainly a disadvantage to me.
The Butlerian Jihad is now done ... on to The Machine Crusade!
Here's a question:
ReplyDeleteCan machines truly "learn?" Or, do they simply add additional variables into calculations/formulae/models in order to predict behavior?
Can this be considered the same thing?
Hmmmm. Interesting question.
ReplyDeleteI would say that there are levels of learning as there are levels of academic achievement. I believe that the "thinking machines" of current day are capable of learning at a rudimentary and primarily unsatisfactory level. But it is logical that the algorithms given to machines will become more complex and machines will progressively learn at higher and higher levels.
But can they reach the level of the human?
Currently, our capacity and ability to learn are much greater than the computer. And we haven't even begun to understand all the intricacies of the brain, the human thinking machine. But the more we understand that, the more we will be able to "teach" the computers.
So I believe the question really is ... is it possible that machines could have the same capacity to learn as humans? If you answer yes, then, I am afraid, all is lost. This question gets at a religious viewpoint that is not explored in the Dune books where religion is a tool to be wielded. Herbert often explores the question of what makes us human but never seriously from a religious perspective.
To explore that perspective, Herbert and son would have had to force the characters to reflect on why they exist. What is their purpose? What happens to them when they die? Is there an "almighty"? But the Herberts skirt this issue. As opposed to George Lucas who wanted to at least address the religious issue by providing the Force and midiclorians in his futuristic story that has so many similarities to Herbert's story.
So to really answer the question, I believe we woulde have to talk about the intangible thing that makes us human. That makes each of us more than a contained vessel of biological material.
Sounds like a possible conversation for drinks around the firepit!!
Sold!
ReplyDeleteNote to self ... Saturday night, fireside chat ... what makes us human? Not machine, not animal ... human.
ReplyDelete