tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783360784022336741.post1873428171904191862..comments2014-11-29T04:27:24.284-08:00Comments on superconcepts: Machines to Run Society?Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05875712935672926252noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783360784022336741.post-25904534946281818872010-03-21T03:02:14.860-07:002010-03-21T03:02:14.860-07:00The constitution might perhaps be more simply put ...The constitution might perhaps be more simply put as, "Thou shalt be nice unto one another".<br /><br />The trouble with codes of law is that they are always open to interpretation, are frequently contradictory and require value judgements. <br /><br />In the constitution, what counts as "value" or "dis-value"? If someone takes some of my food, is that a dis-value? But what if I'm grossly overweight and at risk of being chased by lions? What counts as 'property'? If I walk on a patch of land, is it my property? Or do I have to sleep on it? Or sleep on it every day for several weeks? Or put a fence round it? What if unbeknown to me someone else has been doing that for years, gone away for a while, and comes back? What if he never comes back? Is it his, or mine?<br /><br />It's easy to contrive other, probably better examples, but the point is that whatever the legal system, the arguments arise when there are differences in interpretation or contradictory rules. The only way to avoid such differences is to specify completely every situation that could possibly arise, which a bit of maths will tell you requires more energy to do than than there actually is.<br /><br />And of course, once there is a machine capable of making these value judgements for us, we have a machine that frankly isn't going to give two hoots, much as we don't sort out the squabbles between two crows over a worm.Darren Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684689674874092108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783360784022336741.post-20841660195111558242010-03-20T21:09:04.286-07:002010-03-20T21:09:04.286-07:00I can hear President Bender saying, "Kiss my ...I can hear President Bender saying, "Kiss my shiny metal ass!" and then belching fire.<br /><br />Machines could definitely speed up some processes of government but I think the final say for important issues should be left to humans.<br /><br />I'm sure that well designed and carefully programmed AI units will be able to provide numerous logical options based upon reasoning based upon analysis of the pros and cons for various situations, and all this based on a set of logical rules and guidelines. <br /><br />At the least, using AI in political affairs could help to evolve human thinking to be more logical rather than emotional about politics.<br /><br />Maybe they could be programmed along this basic set of rules:<br /><br /><br />Neo-Tech.com (reprinted with permission):<br /><br />The Constitution of the Universe (1976)<br /><br />Preamble<br /><br />*The purpose of conscious life is to live creatively, happily, eternally.<br /><br />*The function of government is to provide the conditions that let individuals fulfill that purpose. The Constitution of the Universe guarantees those conditions by forbidding the use of initiatory force, fraud, or coercion by any person or group against any individual.<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Article 1<br /><br />No person, group of persons, or government shall initiate force, threat of force, or fraud against any individual's self or property.<br /><br />Article 2<br /><br />Force is morally-and-legally justified only for protection from those who violate Article 1.<br /><br />Article 3<br /><br />No exceptions shall exist for Articles 1 and 2.<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Premises <br /><br />1. Values exist only relative to life. <br /><br />2. Whatever benefits a living organism is a value to that organism.<br /><br />3. Whatever harms a living organism is a dis-value to that organism.<br /><br />4. The value against which all values are measured is conscious life.<br /><br />5. Morals apply only to conscious individuals.<br /><br />* Immoral actions arise (1) from individuals who harm others through force, fraud, or coercion and (2) from individuals who usurp, degrade, or destroy values created or earned by others.<br /><br />* Moral actions arise from individuals who honestly create and competitively produce values to benefit self, others, and society.Maxwell Jenningshttp://poweressence.com/persuasive-techniquesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783360784022336741.post-39623365568788429312010-03-20T12:41:25.434-07:002010-03-20T12:41:25.434-07:002 excellent points about how current politics is g...2 excellent points about how current politics is getting it wrong. This is clear illustration that emotion probably shouldn't be making these kinds of decisions.<br /><br />I guess the debate should incorporate the possibility that politics could become more objective, even if it's not machines making the decisions, but still humans. Handing the responsibilities to machines could be much further down the line, if ever. <br /><br />Thanks for this further food for thought.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10835576436476674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783360784022336741.post-79819277461652409252010-03-20T11:54:43.572-07:002010-03-20T11:54:43.572-07:00I think you make a balanced, moderate case for a w...I think you make a balanced, moderate case for a way forward in how decisions are made.<br /><br />Today, far too many decisions made by our politicians are irrational and do not, in the long-run to us much good.<br /><br />The best current example is drugs policy. All the evidence is telling us that we've got it wrong. Abusers keep taking heroin, keep placing a great burden on social and health care systems, not to mention the criminal justice system, and keep dying.<br /><br />In the mean-time the drugs barons make all the profits, which are kept artificially high by the efforts of customs and police.<br /><br />Properly conducted scientific analysis of the situation, such as that which previously was undertaken by Prof Nutt's team at the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, suggests our current policy is making things worse, not better. LSD and ecstasy are less dangerous than alcohol, and have potential therapeutic uses that are not explored because of prohibition.<br /><br />It's the same with crime. Most crime is committed by people who have been to prison, which is a strong indicator that prisons broadly don't work either as a deterrent, or as rehabilitation. That's not to say all prisons don't work. Some great results are being achieved where the necessary resources are put in. Restorative justice produces much better results.<br /><br />Yet the tendency is for people to want tougher, harsher sentences for ever more minor crimes, against the evidence. <br /><br />Perhaps here is a case for hiring one of your machines.Darren Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684689674874092108noreply@blogger.com