🚀 go-pugleaf

>>>>> On Tue, 3 Nov 1992 22:43:12 GMT, fuller@athena.cs.uga.edu (James P. H. Fuller) said:

> The claim that we do higher math (or anything) by means of some knowable
> or unknowable controlling algorithm will be subject to the standard refu-
> tation:
I assume "standard" means "usual", not "of recognised quality" here?

>     If all behavior is rule-governed then in order to guide behavior A
> a corresponding rule A must be applied.  But *applying the rule* is a be-
> havior also, and in turn must have a rule to govern it -- i.e. a rule B
> to explain how to apply rule A.  And there must in turn be a rule C to con-
> trol the application of rule B.  Instant infinite regress.  On the other
> hand, if we "just know" how to apply rule A and don't need a second rule
> B to determine how to do this, then we've identified a behavior that doesn't 
> need a rule to govern it and acknowledged that not all behavior is rule-
> governed.

>     Conclusion: at some point we must simply act, without any rule overt
> or covert to control our action.  Though a given action may be describable
> by a rule inferred by an observer, that alone is not enough to show that
> a rule somewhere inside the actor is necessarily controlling the action.
> Whatever the correct analysis is of the regularities we see in behavior,
> the notion of rules or guiding algorithms as a universal answer is just
> too naive.

There are two obvious problems with this argument.
i) It ignores the possibility of self-referential rules, which would avoid
the infinite regress.
ii) Even if there is a level where we must simply act, (and obviously
there is - physics is describable by rules, but if you jump of a cliff,
you do not need a rule to tell you to apply gravity and fall), this does
nothing to rule out a controlling algorithm being used for higher maths.
Every step in this argument is equally applicable to computers.
--
     Alan Braggins, alanb@sdl.mdcbbs.com, abraggins@cix.compulink.co.uk
Shape Data - A division of EDS-Scicon Limited.   Cambridge, UK +44-223-316673
   "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
 "My employer does not necessarily share my views - but I'm working on it."