One of the enduring questions that has been asked even before the development of the modern computer is: Can a computer think? Is intelligence something that is unique to humans (or, perhaps more broadly, to living creatures), or can it be simulated in wire and semiconductors?
In this course, we will explore this question by reading and responding to the written comments of thoughtful individuals (in essays, books, fiction, and film) and evaluating the arguments made on both sides of the question.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In each Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric, students encounter the two central aspects of the humanistic tradition of rhetorical education: argumentation and effective oral and written expression. Students in these seminars develop the intellectual habits and language capabilities to construct persuasive arguments and to write and speak effectively for academic and civic purposes.
GUIDELINES
Through their introduction to argumentation, these seminars address:
Through their introduction to effective expression, these seminars address:
These seminars may be organized around topics, themes, or texts; in each seminar the material must be appropriate and accessible for meaningful work by first-year students.
Students will read a number of papers, chapters, and excerpts, and will be asked to respond to them in writing. Additional short writing assignments may also be given. Students will be asked to take two one-hour examinations and a comprehensive final examination, and will be asked to write two major papers.
Short writings: 20%
Two hour exams: 20%
Two major papers: 40%
Final examination: 20%
incorporate
Total: 100%
The following presents topics and sample assignments in (roughly) the order proposed.
I. Descartes (selection), and an introduction to the question.
The "Discourse on Method" raises several of the fundamental questions to which the field of computational intelligence must respond. In particular, Descartes asked how it might be possible that a mechanical device would be able to respond appropriately to common statements "as the dullest of men do".
Assignment: Written (one page) response to the excerpt.
II. Alan Turing: "Computing Machines and Intelligence", Mind, Vol. LIX, #236, 1950
In this 1950 paper the British mathematician Alan Turing argued that machine intelligence is a possibility, and defined a test, now called the "Turing Test" as a test for machine intelligence.
Assignment: Written (one page) response to the paper
III. Formal Models of Computation
This will either be a chapter from a textbook in development (i.e., something that I am currently writing), or a chapter from an existing textbook.
Assignment: An exercise in finite state automata, and an exercise in interpreting a basic Turing Machine program (cf. Copeland).
IV. Playacting? Discussions between Descartes and Turing? Groups of two, 5 - 10 minutes.
V. In the popular literature? AI and SF? Discussion? Essay.
VI. Newell, Allen, and Simon, Herbert A. The Physical Symbol System Hypothesis ("Computer Science as Empirical Inquiry", 1975 ACM Turing Award Lecture).
This paper introduces the physical symbol system as a formal model for computation and introduces the "Physical Symbol System Hypothesis." We will combine this with the Turing-Church Hypothesis to gain an understanding of the hopes of strong AI.
Exercise: A written (one page) response to the paper.
Paper project: (details to be added): Write a paper summarizing the positions taken by Descartes, Turing, Newell and Simon, and John Searle. Two tasks in this paper: First, to summarize the positions taken by each of the above (and anyone else you might want to include) and to consider the various papers as a long-term one-way conversation between authors in different times, and, secondly, to analyze the arguments <<need a topic on "the analysis of arguments"???>>
Oral project: (details to be added): A teaching presentation. 5 minutes. Explain the PSSH to your colleagues.
VII. John Searle and the Chinese Room experiment (Searle, John R. "Minds, Brains, and Programs" from The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol. 3.
Searle proposes a test to counter both the Turing Test and the Physical Symbol Hypothesis. Does he succeed?
Assignment: A written (one page) response to the paper.
Oral Project: A debate between Turing and Searle.
Oral Project: A panel discussion: Turing, Newell (or Simon), and Searle
X. Natural Language Understanding.
Grammars and scripts, and an answer for Descartes.
Assignment: Work with simple grammars
VIII.. Contemporary responses