[MD] Computers vs. Brains

[Platt Holden]

All:

The subject is the title of an article appearing in the NYTimes on 3/31/09. 
Among many interesting statements in the article is the following:

"We use emotions, the brain´s steersman, to assign value to our experiences 
and to future possibilities, often allowing us to evaluate potential 
outcomes efficiently and rapidly when information is uncertain. In general, 
we bring an extraordinary amount of background information to bear on 
seemingly simple tasks, allowing us to make inferences that are difficult 
for machines."

Assigning values to experience? Sounds familiar doesn't it? I wonder if the 
authors have an inkling of the Pirsigian revolution. Probably not because 
they assume a subject (assigning values) to an object (experience) rather 
than seeing experience/values as two sides of the same coin. 

Nevertheless, you may find the article interesting. It's at:

http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/guest-column-computers-vs-
brains/?scp=1&sq=Sandra%20Aamodt&st=cse

Platt