Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Take into consideration the possibility of learning from our
mistakes
Exclude simple automatic responses of bacteria and other sin
glecell organisms
Exclude mechanical operations, such as are found in the
burning of a rocket engine, the running of an internal com
bustion engine, or the manufacture of pencils
Examples of What Is and Is Not Considered Intelligent
In considering the nature of intelligence, you may want to distinguish between following
the steps of a process and understanding those steps. For example, intelligence might
be involved in designing rockets, engines, or manufacturing processes, but we likely
would not associate intelligence with the actual running of the machinery itself.
Similarly, an automobile driver might demonstrate intelligence in driving, but the car is
not considered intelligent.
Distinctions involving the performing of music, however, may be more subtle. Consider
the playing of a piano. At one level, the production of sound involves using your fingers
to hit various piano keys, and this causes the generation of sounds. With today's tech
nology, it is possible to record exactly what notes are pressed, when, and how hard,
and this information can be used to have the piano play exactly the same notes in the
same way. From the standpoint of tone production, today's equipment can play a piano
exactly the same way that a pianist can. Because we likely would not consider the mim
icking of piano playing to be intelligent, this suggests that intelligence and artistry have
qualities beyond simple tone production on a piano.
Further, experienced listeners to piano music can hear a difference between the playing
of music by a virtuoso artist and the playing by a competent, but less sophisticated,
player. In these cases, the notes seem to be the same. Even the timing of the notes and
shades of intensity may seem the same. However, listeners can recognize inspiration
and artistry.
And, in talking to virtuoso players, we may discover that many lose themselves in their
playing; they may not be aware of the details of what they are doing when they perform
their best work. If this is the case, we may wonder about the role of the rational and
conscious in the production of wonderful music.
Altogether, it is interesting to consider what qualities lead to the expert playing of mu
sic; what are the roles of artistry and intelligence.
In considering the range of possible forms of intelligence (hu
man beings, higher mammals, possible beings from other solar sys
tems), we must be careful that any definition of thought or intelli
gence does not unduly prejudge the discussion. For example, if we
