[extropy-chat] The emergence of AI

[Hara Ra]

Waay back in college days (1964 or so) as a physics nerd I discovered 
psychology. Not the Freud stuff, or any of the other theories like Jung and 
so on, but via learning human communications by process groups (a nicer 
term than marathon or encounter). I had discovered rather brutally that my 
social skills weren't and thus began a 35 year process of insight, 
emotional growth, and self improvement, mostly cognitive and learning what 
my feelings were about, as well as how to communicate a bit better.

For many years I was of the opinion that "It's all software", and many 
threads were explored, some quite esoteric, others a la Leary, etc. I don't 
think so any more. There is a whole selection of levels of plasticity, from 
recalling a new phone number to my genes. As far as I can tell, some levels 
get installed in early babyhood and that's it. As a cryonicist, I hope to 
get a neuronal editor and eventually make changes which cannot be done at 
the present.

Though it is very hard to really realize when something is basically 
hardwired, there is also a kind of liberation - there is no need to try 
changing things one lacks tools for. I can focus my limited energy in the 
possible. I hope the cryonics will work, so the possible is larger.

>Basically, I don't believe there's any such thing as fully recursive
>self-improvement; it seems to me there always has to be a static part
>that drives the improvement of the dynamic part; but I'm curious about
>the reasons people like Eliezer have for believing otherwise.
>
>- Russell

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=   Hara Ra (aka Gregory Yob)    =
=     harara at sbcglobal.net       =
=   Alcor North Cryomanagement   =
=   Alcor Advisor to Board       =
=       831 429 8637             =
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