[MD] Intellectual Level

[Mary]

Thoughts inspired by Arlo,

[Arlo]
One, can a computer be used in the production of art? (In this
scenario, the context includes the programmer, the software, its
coders, etc., in the same way a canvas and paint are used by a
painter, say.)
to (1) yes, of course

[Mary]
I agree, and also agree that this is the simple question.  The choice
of tools does not determine whether or not the outcome is 'art'.

[Arlo]
Two, can a computer spontaneously and deliberately produce art
independent of (or at least irrespective of) its programming? (In this
scenario, the computer would be seen as operating "autonomously" in
its objectives, and I'd argue must include a volitional element.
This scenario aligns with questions about "AI" or sentient machines.)
to (2) not yet

[Mary]
Is art what's being made if one person (or one computer in this case)
is not aware it is making it?  Is the sun creating art when it paints
the sky in gorgeous reds at sunset?  Same question, yes?

The computer and the sun are up to different things but fall into the
same value set.  They each have 'goals' that are valued at the
Inorganic Level.  The sun values shining (I guess) and the Earth
values spinning (I guess) and the two combine in a way that just
happens to put humans in a position to touch a little bit of Dynamic
Quality.  "Oooh that sunset!".  Maybe if we operated only at the
Inorganic we would see the _production_ of a sunset on Earth as 'art',
but I think we experience the 'art' aspect at a much higher level, one
that neither the sun, Earth, nor a computer will be able to
comprehend.

Short answer?  Yes.  The sun and the computer are both touching
Dynamic Quality, but it is Dynamic Quality for their highest level not
ours.  For us, we don't see the Dynamic Quality until the end result.
The computer might see the dynamic turning of ones to zeros and back
as highly awe-inspiring Dynamic Quality, but we just see an ugly
machine running until the beautiful fractal or whatever is displayed.

Look at it like this.  For millions of years the Earth existed with no
life on it.  Was there 'art on Earth'?  I say yes.  Whatever
constitutes the expression of Dynamic Quality at the Inorganic Level
surely existed, so there was Inorganic 'art'.  If we travelled back in
time it might even look pretty to us, but that would be inadvertent.

To me, the 'art' happens when there is a brush with Dynamic Quality.
There is 'art' in the process for the maker and 'art' in the enjoyment
of the experiencer.  But the creator of what we value as art may not
have felt they were doing art at the time.  Lower levels are not aware
of the higher ones, so the sun would see no 'art' in the sunset it
creates - in fact cannot - but we sure do.

Sort of gives a whole new meaning to the term 'high art' doesn't it?

Mary