by: adrian

Thu, 11 May 2006 15:54:36 +0000

I like the way that you are thinking but let me give you some advice.
When I started mixing the present with the past I got fucked. When I started mixing computers and Plato we gave computers the benefit of doubt and assumed that they could think; simply because of “2001 a Space Odyssey”. But in those days we didn’t have the benefit of a ubiquitous OS. Then we had the privilege of programming our own Operating System to suit our individual needs.
The first time that I switched on a computer it just had that “> _” symbol with the “_” blinking on an off waiting for me to type something in. Just like in “Lost”, the program that is being televised courtesy of Microsoft Corp.
It took me more than a decade to get over the frustration of feeling that I could not get the most out of my computer. But only when I taught myself machine code did I realized that the basic design of the microchip, which in essence only has a stack, a pair of registers, and accumulator, was I capable of going back to the Republic. From the point of view of a mathematician it felt like the design had at least being based on some Euclidean principals. It could draw a line between two points. It could draw two parallel lines. It could even draw a line intersecting two parallel lines, but it could no more draw a circle and begging to understand the meaning of an angle than a moth can prevent itself from flying into a candle flame even though it knows that it’s going to get burnt.
So I gave up on the dream of creating an artificial intelligence. Instead of which I took up the task of creating an artificial carpenter. Then eventually God began his communion with me. Now I’m back at school again.

Comments on: What would Plato think of

by: adrian