internet and consciousness

[Schwann]

binglis at ufthm.health.ufl.edu (Ben Inglis) wrote:
>
> 
> In article 792283358snz at grithill.demon.co.uk, rwalker at grithill.demon.co.uk (robin walker) writes:
> >In article <1392 at percep.demon.co.uk>
> >           rmallott at percep.demon.co.uk "rmallott" writes:
> >
> >> In article <3grin5$m2 at ixnews1.ix.netcom.com> Gerald McNerney
> >> <mcnerney at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> >> 
> >> > Is the internet ever capable of attaining consciousness?  How can we 
> >
> >.....stuff deleted.....
> >When a widely acceptable definition of consciousness is established, the 
> >Internet will be found to fit it.
> 
> Um, nope, not if you've read Penrose's and others' arguements against strong
> artificial intelligence.  For example, in principle one could construct a
> computer from cogs and wheels, water pipes or whatever you fancy as your
> logic gates.  So one could, in principle, form an "Internet" of those
> "computers".  All the Internet will ever be is an extremely complex set
> of connected computers.  It won't become "conscious" and thereby administer
> itself (and put millions of SA types out of work!), for example, while it
> is composed of the sorts of Turing machines it is now.  That's not to say that
> some day a fully conscious "computer" might not be produced - an inevitable
> consequence of our understanding consciousness, from past experience (cf.
> the atomic bomb and genetic engineering) - from which a conscious Internet
> might be formed.  But don't hold your breath!
> 
> Ben
> 
> (P.S. Imagine if Intel already had the knowledge to make a "conscious computer"
> chip.  Then maybe the Pentium would be schizophrenic!)
> 

Greetings,

and GLOBAL WEBTRANCE to you all,

no the I-Net will not become conscious, but maybe you will?

respect,

schwabb cyber-shaemon