John Johnston
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262101264
- eISBN:
- 9780262276351
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262101264.003.0007
- Subject:
- Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
This chapter first uncovers what underlies a peculiar and problematic aspect of the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science, and then traverses in detail the ...
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This chapter first uncovers what underlies a peculiar and problematic aspect of the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science, and then traverses in detail the conceptual history of AI research. It suggests that previous discussions of the relationship between AI and cognitive science have neglected the key role of technics, and argues that both must be analyzed as particular concrete instances of a computational assemblage. The chapter also examines the dramatic clash between symbolic and connectionist models of AI in these terms, after which it briefly considers two efforts to simulate consciousness (or several of its features) in robotic machines.Less
This chapter first uncovers what underlies a peculiar and problematic aspect of the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science, and then traverses in detail the conceptual history of AI research. It suggests that previous discussions of the relationship between AI and cognitive science have neglected the key role of technics, and argues that both must be analyzed as particular concrete instances of a computational assemblage. The chapter also examines the dramatic clash between symbolic and connectionist models of AI in these terms, after which it briefly considers two efforts to simulate consciousness (or several of its features) in robotic machines.
Phil Husbands, Owen Holland, and Michael Wheeler (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262083775
- eISBN:
- 9780262256384
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262083775.001.0001
- Subject:
- Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
The idea of intelligent machines has become part of popular culture. But tracing the history of the actual science of machine intelligence reveals a rich network of cross-disciplinary ...
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The idea of intelligent machines has become part of popular culture. But tracing the history of the actual science of machine intelligence reveals a rich network of cross-disciplinary contributions—the unrecognized origins of ideas now central to artificial intelligence, artificial life, cognitive science, and neuroscience. In this book, scientists, artists, historians, and philosophers discuss the multidisciplinary quest to formalize and understand the generation of intelligent behavior in natural and artificial systems as a wholly mechanical process. The chapters illustrate the diverse and interacting notions that chart the evolution of the idea of the mechanical mind. They describe the mechanized mind as, among other things, an analogue system, an organized suite of chemical interactions, a self-organizing electromechanical device, an automated general-purpose information processor, and an integrated collection of symbol-manipulating mechanisms. The chapters investigate the views of pivotal figures that range from Descartes and Heidegger to Alan Turing and Charles Babbage, and emphasize such frequently overlooked areas as British cybernetic and pre-cybernetic thinkers. The book concludes with the personal insights of five highly influential figures in the field: John Maynard Smith, John Holland, Oliver Selfridge, Horace Barlow, and Jack Cowan.Less
The idea of intelligent machines has become part of popular culture. But tracing the history of the actual science of machine intelligence reveals a rich network of cross-disciplinary contributions—the unrecognized origins of ideas now central to artificial intelligence, artificial life, cognitive science, and neuroscience. In this book, scientists, artists, historians, and philosophers discuss the multidisciplinary quest to formalize and understand the generation of intelligent behavior in natural and artificial systems as a wholly mechanical process. The chapters illustrate the diverse and interacting notions that chart the evolution of the idea of the mechanical mind. They describe the mechanized mind as, among other things, an analogue system, an organized suite of chemical interactions, a self-organizing electromechanical device, an automated general-purpose information processor, and an integrated collection of symbol-manipulating mechanisms. The chapters investigate the views of pivotal figures that range from Descartes and Heidegger to Alan Turing and Charles Babbage, and emphasize such frequently overlooked areas as British cybernetic and pre-cybernetic thinkers. The book concludes with the personal insights of five highly influential figures in the field: John Maynard Smith, John Holland, Oliver Selfridge, Horace Barlow, and Jack Cowan.
John Johnston
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262101264
- eISBN:
- 9780262276351
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262101264.003.0009
- Subject:
- Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
This chapter discusses why further success in the building of intelligent machines will most likely be tied to progress in understanding how the human brain actually works. It argues that the ...
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This chapter discusses why further success in the building of intelligent machines will most likely be tied to progress in understanding how the human brain actually works. It argues that the bottom-up view of neuroscience and the top-down view of classic artificial intelligence (AI) do not meet in the middle, where all the interesting behavior—perception, complex movement, and a basic ability to cope with the environment—seems to lie. It describes three current research initiatives that operate in or are moving toward this middle realm. The first (Eric Baum) serves as a transition from classic AI and cognitive science. The second (Jeff Hawkins) plunges us into a theory of the brain as a memory prediction machine. The third (Steve Grand) involves the actual building of a working baby android. The chapter concludes by considering some recent research in self-modeling and communication.Less
This chapter discusses why further success in the building of intelligent machines will most likely be tied to progress in understanding how the human brain actually works. It argues that the bottom-up view of neuroscience and the top-down view of classic artificial intelligence (AI) do not meet in the middle, where all the interesting behavior—perception, complex movement, and a basic ability to cope with the environment—seems to lie. It describes three current research initiatives that operate in or are moving toward this middle realm. The first (Eric Baum) serves as a transition from classic AI and cognitive science. The second (Jeff Hawkins) plunges us into a theory of the brain as a memory prediction machine. The third (Steve Grand) involves the actual building of a working baby android. The chapter concludes by considering some recent research in self-modeling and communication.
Margaret A. Boden
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262083775
- eISBN:
- 9780262256384
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262083775.003.0003
- Subject:
- Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
In 1917 D’Arcy Thompson published his celebrated book On Growth and Form. This chapter discusses how this pioneering work of mathematical biology, in which Thompson sought to develop a quantitative ...
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In 1917 D’Arcy Thompson published his celebrated book On Growth and Form. This chapter discusses how this pioneering work of mathematical biology, in which Thompson sought to develop a quantitative approach to biological forms and processes of growth, not only helped to pave the way for modern theoretical biology but also prefigured the contemporary field of artificial life (or A-Life)—the study of life in general, abstract terms. As well as influencing Alan Turing’s work on morphogenesis, it emphasized the embodied nature of natural intelligence, a theme that has become increasingly central to contemporary cognitive science.Less
In 1917 D’Arcy Thompson published his celebrated book On Growth and Form. This chapter discusses how this pioneering work of mathematical biology, in which Thompson sought to develop a quantitative approach to biological forms and processes of growth, not only helped to pave the way for modern theoretical biology but also prefigured the contemporary field of artificial life (or A-Life)—the study of life in general, abstract terms. As well as influencing Alan Turing’s work on morphogenesis, it emphasized the embodied nature of natural intelligence, a theme that has become increasingly central to contemporary cognitive science.
