limited computer time: haven't tried the programme at this time.

Sounds like a system that was developed for a robot to explore other planets: the robot that "learned from its environment by bumping into things" took time to learn but could do things that "knowledge programmed" robots could not, after a while.

The problem with designing any such programme is one would have to direct the computer regarding priorities and values.

Even if it was designed to reconsider its whole data-base and all levels of grouping of data (so would appear to be like a conscious individual in some ways): it seems to me it would not be alive.

Arguably in a way humans as you meet them tend to be artificially intelligent compared to their inbuilt way of living which gets heavily repressed after birth (?)

However a computer programme can be written that is much more adaptable and self-checking at each level of its history than most computer programmes? But one would get an illusion of consciousness not the real thing surely.

Teilhard de Chardin wrote "The Phenomenon of Man" which I have access to but have not read.

-dolphin

• Program - tkorrovi - December 1, 2003 - 16:25 UTC