Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I'm all ears if you want to explain how you have a magic soul that is too important and beautiful to ever be equalled by a machine. But if intelligence is not equivalent to computation, then what is it? Don't take the easy way out of asking me to define it, you define it as something other than the ability to successfully apply computation to the environment.

Was Hellen Keller not intelligent because she lacked the ability to see or hear? Is intelligence defined by a particular set of sense organs? A particular way of interacting with the environment? What about paraplegics, are they disqualified from being considered intelligent because they lack the same embodied experience as others?

Whenever you give someone kudos for being brilliant, it is always for their ability to successfully compute something. If that isn't what we're discussing when we're talking about intelligence, then what are we discussing?





Yes, put words in my mouth and then ask me to defend them. Clearly I expressed support for the view that humans have a "magic soul that is too important beautiful to ever be equalled by a machine"...

On the other hand, you are clearly stating that intelligence is computation. But you're right, it would be too easy to ask you to define what any of those words mean AND to back that claim.


I've done my best to express a logical argument for my assertions. I've defined what I mean by intelligence, and given examples of humans who lack major senses or physical capabilities, and yet are still considered intelligent; attempting to argue that intelligence is not tied to any physical characteristic, but is rather a dexterity and facility with computation. I haven't yet grokked what you're actually arguing, though. You just seem to dislike the idea of intelligence being compared to computation, but I don't know what you're offering as an alternative.



Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: