John McCarthy's influence in computer science ranges from the invention of LISP and time-sharing to the coining of the term AI and the founding of the AI laboratory at Stanford University. One of the foremost figures in computer sciences, McCarthy has written papers which are widely referenced and stand as milestones of development over a wide range of topics. In this collection of reviews, McCarthy staunchly defends the importance of Artificial Intelligence research against its attackers; this book gathers McCarthy's reviews of books which discuss and criticise the future of AI. Here, McCarthy explores the larger questions associated with AI, such as the question of the nature of intelligence, of the acquisition and application of knowledge, and the question of the politics behind this research.
Author(s): John McCarthy
Series: Center for the Study of Language and Information - CSLI Lecture Notes 49
Publisher: CSLI Publications
Year: 1996
Language: English
Pages: 129
Defending AI Research......Page 1
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
1.1 It's Hard to Figure Out What He Really Believes.........Page 11
1.2 But Here's a Try at Summarizing......Page 14
1.3 The ELIZA Example......Page 16
1.4 What Does He Say About Computers?......Page 17
1.5 In Defense of the Unjustly Attacked—Some of whom are Innocent......Page 19
1.6 A Summary of Polemical Sins......Page 26
1.7 What Worries about Computers are Warranted?......Page 28
References......Page 31
2. Weizenbaum Again - Sermon to Physicists......Page 33
3. Review of "Artificial Intelligence: A General Survey"......Page 37
4. Lessons from the Lighthill Flap - 20 years after......Page 45
References......Page 47
5. Review of Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea......Page 49
6. Review of Mathematics: The Loss of Certainty......Page 53
7. Review of John von Neumann and Norbert Wiener......Page 55
8. Review of The Emperor's New Mind......Page 59
8.1 The Book......Page 62
8.2 Penrose's Positive Ideas......Page 66
References......Page 69
9.2 Awareness and Understanding......Page 71
9.3 The Argument from Godel's Theorem......Page 74
References......Page 75
10. Review of The Question of Artifical Intelligence......Page 77
References:......Page 86
11. Review of Cognitive Science and Concepts of Mind......Page 87
12. Review of Artificial Intelligence: Its Scope and Limits......Page 89
References......Page 95
13.1 Progress in Logic-Based AI......Page 97
13.2 The Future of Logic Based AI......Page 99
13.3 Common Sense in Lenat's Work......Page 102
13.4 The Degenerating Research Program......Page 104
References......Page 106
14. Review of Before It's Too Late: A Scientist's Case for Nuclear Energy......Page 109
15. Petition for Withdrawal of Computing the Future: A National Research Council report......Page 111
15.1 Objections to the Report......Page 112
15.2 Discussion......Page 115
15.4 Administrative Matters......Page 117
16. Review of Weapons and Hope......Page 119
17. Review of The Fifth Generation - Artificial Intelligence and Japan's Computer Challenge to the World......Page 125
18. Review of Not in our Genes: Biology, Ideology and Human Nature......Page 129
19. Review of The Cult of Information......Page 135
