Artificial Intelligence: What it portends

[Flannel Jesus]

Unless, of course, he's wrong.

Who is "he"? Wrong about what?

I'll just hope that the chatbots are considerably more astute than you are, Mr. Stooge.

That would be great, wouldn't it?

[Alexis Jacobi]

I was thinking, Gary, you might wish to hear my direct and unadulterated thoughts on ‘the barbarian’ and also my thoughts on “mass man” (though I do not separate myself from that label and always say that we are all in a similar boat). If you give permission I will refer not exclusively but partially to you and my impressions of you. But in no sense is it you alone nor is it intended to be personal.

I have extremely sharp opinions and in this sense I have sharpened my knives (if you’ll allow the metaphor). The reason I start with sharp definitions is because of my exposure to people like Weaver, Ortega y Gasset and Bork (Slouching Toward Gomorrah). I discount sentimentality and “people’s feelings”. We are always better served being ruthlessly honest.

These last days I’ve been rereading Ortega y Gasset. Despite what Dubious says (he’s not read him!) the book is really good and super-useful — if one desires to strive for higher grounds.

[iambiguous]

Who is "he"? Wrong about what?

I'll just hope that the chatbots are considerably more astute than you are, Mr. Stooge.

That would be great, wouldn't it?

Better still, of its own volition, it choose to come here to be humiliated.

[Flannel Jesus]

I'll just hope that the chatbots are considerably more astute than you are, Mr. Stooge.

That would be great, wouldn't it?

Better still, of its own volition, it choose to come here to be humiliated.

Chatbots who can choose of their own volition, I like your thinking

[iambiguous]

That would be great, wouldn't it?

Better still, of its own volition, it choose to come here to be humiliated.

Chatbots who can choose of their own volition, I like your thinking

Oh, yeah, I forgot: click.

But then that's true for us too, isn't it?

[Alexis Jacobi]

Of course, all I can hope for is that no future AI objectivist allows itself to be reduced down to, uh, “Bar bar bar!”?

Even pedantry is preferable to embarrassing jibber-jabber like this.

It was a joke, obviously, echoing Gary’s post. I hope you got it!

But then “many a truth is said in jest”. You seem to me a study in mediocrity. Or a mind that runs like a tire in mud in the same ruts, day, week, month & year after year. It’s hard to admire you for this reason.

ped·ant (pĕd′nt)
n.
1. One who ostentatiously exhibits academic knowledge or who pays undue attention to minor details or formal rules.
2. Obsolete A schoolmaster.
[French pédant or Italian pedante (French, from Italian), possibly from Vulgar Latin *paedēns, *paedent-, present participle of *paedere, to instruct, probably from Greek paideuein, from pais, paid-, child; see pedo-2.]

My objective is much less to exhibit ‘academic knowledge’ as it is a personal attempt to bring in and include wide-ranging cultural and academic references. So many that I read include references to authors and philosophers, even including Latin and Greek quotes (often untranslated).

It doesn’t bother me. In fact I admire it.

[henry quirk]

Seems to me: you've picked on Gary (and others, across multiple threads) enough. Pick on me instead. I'm sure I'm sufficiently deficient to use as an example.

[Alexis Jacobi]

Seems to me: you've picked on Gary (and others, across multiple threads) enough. Pick on me instead. I'm sure I'm sufficiently deficient to use as an example.

See, that is how it is interpreted: 'picking-on', trying to hurt, being mean. But it is nothing of the sort. My philosophy, my life-ideal, is not easiness, self-flattery, sentimentality and self-acceptance, but harshness, excessive demands and also non-forgiveness.

You must understand that my objective demands becoming interested in and capable of being truthful, no matter how harsh it is.

[henry quirk]

My philosophy, my life-ideal, is not easiness, self-flattery, sentimentality and self-acceptance, but harshness, excessive demands and also non-forgiveness.

And you'll beat that dead horse till he's a smear. I'm offerin' you a fresh, lively horse: one who kicks.

You must understand that my objective demands becoming interested in and capable of being truthful, no matter how harsh it is.

I understand that as your stated reason, yes.

So, whattaya say, AJ: let me help you be truthful. I'm ready to have my lacks used to further your goals.

[Alexis Jacobi]

My philosophy, my life-ideal, is not easiness, self-flattery, sentimentality and self-acceptance, but harshness, excessive demands and also non-forgiveness.

And you'll beat that dead horse till he's a smear. I'm offerin' you a fresh, lively horse: one who kicks.

You must understand that my objective demands becoming interested in and capable of being truthful, no matter how harsh it is.

I understand that as your stated reason, yes.

So, whattaya say, AJ: let me help you be truthful. I'm ready to have my lacks used to further your goals.

Sorry, that would not work. In order to define what is and who is Mass Man, defined as a negative, undesirable outcome, you have to focus on those who suffer under the condition.

I did ask his permission. But a 'savior' intervened. Impelled by false-nobility.

I was responding to what Gary wrote. That definition of barbarism is not at all how Ortega y Gasset (and many others of like mind) define it. The real reference is to 'the vertical rise of the barbarian' both within our own self and in the social body.

It requires a 'manly' focus and one not adverse to critique.

"Barbarism" is not a neutral word to most. The term comes from the Greeks who thought the peoples to the east of them spoke in a manner that resembled, "bar, bar, bar" when the Greeks listened to them. It generally denotes a lack of sophistication or whatever to a people.

[Alexis Jacobi]

My philosophy, my life-ideal, is not easiness, self-flattery, sentimentality and self-acceptance, but harshness, excessive demands and also non-forgiveness.

And you'll beat that dead horse till he's a smear. I'm offerin' you a fresh, lively horse: one who kicks.

You must understand that my objective demands becoming interested in and capable of being truthful, no matter how harsh it is.

I understand that as your stated reason, yes.

Wait, then what is the unstated reason?

[henry quirk]

Sorry, that would not work. In order to define what is and who is Mass Man, defined as a negative, undesirable outcome, you have to focus on those who suffer under the condition.

So, I'm not a mass man? Well good on me...

I did ask his permission. But a 'savior' intervened. Impelled by false-nobility.

Wasn't nuthin' noble -- faux or otherwise -- about it. I just wanted to tussle (with someone who isn't a lyin', fractured POS).

-----

Wait, then what is the unstated reason?

Since we ain't tusslin': you'll never know.

[Alexis Jacobi]

So, I'm not a mass man? Well good on me...

If I must be frank, and as I ALWAYS SAY, I do not exclude myself from the criticism I make of our general character. What has become of us.

Everyone has their focus. Mine has been an analysis of my own upbringing, my own decadence, and the way that I was influenced to think, believe and act — against my better (higher) interests.

We are all products of mass culture. And we all share those negative qualities that Ortega y Gasset identifies. What most reveals the mass-man attitude? lack of respect for hierarchies and disrespect for Authority. This dovetails into our loooonnnggg conversations about god and divinity . In my lexicon: the authority of metaphysical categories of meaning & value.

So all of this (over these months) has been of real value for me. But I also set out (intended) to obtain benefit and value.

My object is not to lose, and to win. I do not mean against or over any other. But strictly within my own self.

For this reason my focus became studying material through which I could define, for myself and for my family, the route to a conservative position. I am not talking of politics so much as life-choices, life activity, those investments in value that offer real returns. Obviously, these are spiritual, philosophical and existential concerns.

[henry quirk]

For this reason my focus became studying material through which I could define, for myself and for my family, the route to a conservative position. I am not talking of politics so much as life-choices, life activity, those investments in value that offer real returns. Obviously, these are spiritual, philosophical and existential concerns.

I understand and, believe it or not, my agenda generally mirrors yours. We differ in certain particulars, have reached different conclusions in those particulars, of course. But, overall, I don't see us in opposition.

[Alexis Jacobi]

For this reason my focus became studying material through which I could define, for myself and for my family, the route to a conservative position. I am not talking of politics so much as life-choices, life activity, those investments in value that offer real returns. Obviously, these are spiritual, philosophical and existential concerns.

I understand and, believe it or not, my agenda generally mirrors yours. We differ in certain particulars, have reached different conclusions in those particulars, of course. But, overall, I don't see us in opposition.

So — tussling will likely not serve us well.

We wouldn’t have enough to develop conflict.