I've been working on a general theory of humanity -- e.g. "what
characterizes a human; what makes a human different from an animal?"
Lots of thinkers have pointed to "reason" as the defining difference, I
know -- but as Bertrand Russell said, "It has been said that man is a
rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which
could support this." And he, too, I'm sure, has never found any save in
the few *imposed* efforts he himself had made to be reasonable. I don't
think this theory flies.
My recent research into the mind and AI has sparked a little idea (I'm not
sure if it was articulated exactly by anything that I read, but it is
possible). It is that the defining difference between humans and animals
(or AI, for that matter) is *will*. No other creature (that I know of) is
purpose directed.
The reason I'm directing this specifically to Brodie is to ask the
following question: You have characterized "level 3" as a Firm Commitment
to Purpose ("Programming and Purpose"), and I was wondering if perhaps the
Power of a level-3[1] mind set is a result of maximizing *what defines a
human*? The definitions of level 2 and level 1 then follow as successive
losses of humanity -- exactly as you imply in the book, with level 1 being
"chimps" and level 2 being the men and women of quiet desperation.
Sorry if my understanding is from level 2 -- my rational meme's are a
little to strong just yet (although taking a smashing from "Voltaire's
Bastards; The Dictatorship of Reason in the West", by John Ralston Saul)
ERiC
[1] My understanding of level 3 was much enhanced by the following
paragraph:
I have my own strict requirements and distinct boundaries. It doesn't
agree with what most would say are my duties and obligations, but if
I can live up to its standards it enables me to dispense with
society's code.
If you think this law is too lax, try keeping it some time. It really
demands something godlike in someone who has sworn off the usual
motives of humanity and has dared to trust himself as a ruler. You
need a high heart, faithful will, and clear sight in order to be
your own doctrine, society, and law, so that a simple purpose can be
as strong to you as steel physically is to others.
-- Richard Brodie's translation of R.W. Emerson
http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/emsr16.htm