[FRIAM] computer models of the mind

[Nicholas Thompson]

All, 

My last friam issue came to me in two parts, the second containing the last
four items and no header.  Was that Just Me or were others so afficted. 

As to computer metaphors, I believe profoundly in metaphors.  In fact, for
me it's metaphors all the way down.  All the way up, too.  And sideways, as
well.  

But because I think metaphors are so important, I believe that one must be
very careful when using them to make sure the analogues line up. 
Generally, when we talk about minds, we strip away all the peripherals. 
Minds do not, in our common talk, have arms, legs, mouths, eyes, etc., even
though they are often said to "do inside" all the acts that demand these
peripherals.  When we talk about computers, however, we endow them with
keys, printers, screens, etc. If minds are truly INSIDE, isnt the best
computer metaphor for a mind a turing machine, plain and simple. (or do I
misuse the term) ? Or at least an unadorned box with nothing connected to
it, or nothing PARTICULAR connected to it.  

Nick 

Nicholas Thompson
nickthompson at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson


> [Original Message]
> From: <friam-request at redfish.com>
> To: <friam at redfish.com>
> Date: 7/19/2006 7:57:09 AM
> Subject: Friam Digest, Vol 37, Issue 26
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>    1. Re: Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar,	beer reviews and more
>       (Jochen Fromm)
>    2. singularity (Carlos Gershenson)
>    3. Re: Intentionality is the mark of the vital (Carlos Gershenson)
>    4. Re: Intentionality is the mark of the vital (Phil Henshaw)
>    5. Re: Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar,	beer reviews and more
>       (Phil Henshaw)
>    6. Re: singularity (Bill Eldridge)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:37:52 +0200
> From: "Jochen Fromm" <fromm at vs.uni-kassel.de>
> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Beer Ratings, brewer, brewpub, bar,	beer reviews
> 	and more
> To: "'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group'"
> 	<friam at redfish.com>
> Message-ID: <000601c6ab0e$9ff6c7c0$976fa8c0 at Toshiba>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
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>
> The rating is not correct. Although a cold
> Guinness or Heineken is good as well, there 
> is no doubt that the best beer is made 
> here in Germany, most of them is not available 
> in the US. Germany is famous for its beer.
> There are at least 1,300 breweries in Germany, 
> brewing over 5,000 varieties of beer.
>
> Some of the best brands available in
> the whole country are Krombacher Pils 
> (excellent) and Warsteiner (refreshing).
> There are also a lot of regional brands:
>
> In the North Flensburger Pils, Beck's and Jever
> In the Middle Koenig Pilsener, Veltnis and Bitburger 
> In the South Erdinger Weissbier and Paulaner
>
> Mixed beers are popular, too, in Hamburg 
> "Alster" (with lemonade), in Berlin 
> "Berliner Weisse" (with syrup), and
> many other alcopops popular especially 
> among young people