lyle ungar, university of pennsylvania kinds of minds beyond turing: intentionality and its...

Lyle Ungar, University of Pennsylvania

Kinds ofKinds ofMindsMinds

Beyond Turing: Intentionality

and its alternatives

2Lyle H Ungar, University of Pennsylvania

Our GoalOur GoalOur GoalOur Goal

Scientific models of minds Must make predictions about something

which is observable “the mind parallels the brain, but has no

connection to it” “the mind is that in us which thinks” “the mind is the part of God within each

of us” Implies falsifiability

Karl Popper


Philosophy questions Philosophy questions Philosophy questions Philosophy questions

What kinds of minds are there? ontology Yeast, amoeba, cockroach, sparrow, lion,

person?

How can we know? epistemology

If a lion could talk, we could not understand him

- Ludwig Wittgenstein


Models are at different levelsModels are at different levelsModels are at different levelsModels are at different levels

What is done What goes in, what comes out

What algorithm is used E.g. stores information in a tree

How it is physically implemented E.g. with neurons, silicon, …

Why it is done


FunctionalismFunctionalismFunctionalismFunctionalism

Functionalism The function matters, not how it is carried out “a clock is something that can be used to tell

time”

Machine Functionalism The mind is to the brain as

the program is to the computer


The brain as transducerThe brain as transducerThe brain as transducerThe brain as transducer

Input signal -> brain -> output signal

light -> brain -> blink The myth of double transduction

light -> neurons -> consciousness -> neurons -> blink


The Intentional StanceThe Intentional StanceThe Intentional StanceThe Intentional Stance

Interpret the behavior of an entity as if it were making choices based on its beliefs and desires

Allows one to make predictions Without knowing how the entity works

Contrast with the physical stance design stance

Intentional systems are entities whose behavior is predictable from the intentional stance.

- Dennett


IntentionalityIntentionalityIntentionalityIntentionality

Aboutness, representation “aimed at something” Lock and key Receptor and endorphin Thermometer “represents” temperature Thermostat controls temperature Frog gulps at a fly

Not “intentional” vs. “accidental”


IntenIntenttional is not Intenional is not IntenssionalionalIntenIntenttional is not Intenional is not Intenssionalional

Intensional vs. extensional Meaning/definition vs. listing “books in my room” vs. {“kinds of minds,”

“freedom evolves”, …} Referential transparency

“a rose by any other name is just as sweet”

Intentional A representation of the world

(which may be wrong) I think you’re Bob You think that is the north star



Predict what an entity will do by modeling it (its mind) as if it had beliefs and desires

Beliefs The entity’s model of the world

Desires A utility function Or perhaps a ranked set of goals



Sunflowers intentionally follow the sun

Dogs intentionally get food by begging

Students intentionally get good grades by studying


Beliefs and DesiresBeliefs and DesiresBeliefs and DesiresBeliefs and Desires

Beliefs and desires can be More or less complex More or less explicit


How does a sunflower’s How does a sunflower’s mind work?mind work?How does a sunflower’s How does a sunflower’s mind work?mind work?

“There goes the sun; let me point a bit more to the west.”

“Its brighter in that direction; let me point towards the light.”

“#$*#&$ b)(*&(*&# ^*^&%@#*()”

Is the sunflower’s behavior

“intentional”?


How does a dog’s mind workHow does a dog’s mind workHow does a dog’s mind workHow does a dog’s mind work “Lyle’s a sucker; if I beg I’ll get a handout!” “When I hear those sounds and see those

colors, if a make this sound, food shows up.!”

“lkajkj asdfpwoeiru asfoiu asdfpuoi!!!”






How does a student’s How does a student’s mind work?mind work?How does a student’s How does a student’s mind work?mind work? Do you know how your pancreas

works? Do you know how your mind works? Is “knowing” one different from

knowing the other?


Knowing one’s mind is hardKnowing one’s mind is hardKnowing one’s mind is hardKnowing one’s mind is hard

How do you know why you do things? By observing yourself and making up

stories? Stuffing envelopes for good causes Thinking computers are intelligent Subliminal cuing Brain lesion studies


The Origins of IntentionalityThe Origins of IntentionalityThe Origins of IntentionalityThe Origins of Intentionality

Simple organisms Sense and respond to environment

Grow towards the sun Move up the chemical gradient

Animals Use circulating molecules or electrons to

send messages The pineal gland detects a decrease in

daily light, and “tells” the body to prepare for winter


Animal sentienceAnimal sentienceAnimal sentienceAnimal sentience

Does an octopus feel pain? Does an oyster or a trout?

Does a rhesus monkey feel pain? when one of its testicles is ripped out

How would you tell? the difference between sensitivity and

sentience


Intentional GroupsIntentional GroupsIntentional GroupsIntentional Groups

Fungus-growing ants engage in agriculture. Workers cut leaves, carry these into the nest, prepare them as a medium for growing fungus, plant fungus on them, fertilize the fungus with their own droppings, weed out competitive species by hauling them away, and finally, harvest a special part of the fungus on which they feed.

- Robert Trivers


Leaf-cutter AntsLeaf-cutter AntsLeaf-cutter AntsLeaf-cutter Ants


Kinds of (Learning) MindsKinds of (Learning) MindsKinds of (Learning) MindsKinds of (Learning) Minds

Darwinian Try something, if you are successful, you will have

more offspring Skinnerian

Try some things; repeat the ones that get “reinforcement”

Popperian Try something out in your mind; see if it is likely to

work Permits our hypotheses to die in our stead

Gregorian Use tools (e.g. words)

Permits learning from others


Towards IntentionalityTowards IntentionalityTowards IntentionalityTowards Intentionality

Language was invented so that people could conceal their thoughts from each other

- Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand

Most actions don’t require thoughtAnimals flock, eat, hide, flock, flee

Self-consciousnessDeveloped to model what others think?

Models of others neededWhen one can communicate - and deceive

Most actions don’t require thoughtAnimals flock, eat, hide, flock, flee

Self-consciousnessDeveloped to model what others think?

Models of others neededWhen one can communicate - and deceive


Levels of IntentionalityLevels of IntentionalityLevels of IntentionalityLevels of Intentionality

First-order Have beliefs and desires

Second order Have beliefs and desires about beliefs and

desires

Third order I want you to believe that I want dinner

now.


Higher order intentionality?Higher order intentionality?Higher order intentionality?Higher order intentionality?

Distraction displays Bird expects approaching fox to discover

chicks Bird reasons “The fox could be distracted by

its desire to catch and eat me, but only if it thought that there was a reasonable chance of catching me; it would contract that belief if I gave it evidence I couldn’t fly anymore.

- Dennett


Free will and DeterminismFree will and DeterminismFree will and DeterminismFree will and Determinism


The Turing Test revisitedThe Turing Test revisitedThe Turing Test revisitedThe Turing Test revisited

Can you imagine a computer that …

http://cobot.research.att.com/ http://www.kurzweilai.net/

Would you say it could think? How could you tell?


Alternate TheoriesAlternate TheoriesAlternate TheoriesAlternate Theories

Dualism Identity theory


(Cartesian) Dualism(Cartesian) Dualism(Cartesian) Dualism(Cartesian) Dualism

The mind and brain are separate “The athletes are prepared mentally and

physically.” “There’s nothing wrong with your body; its

all in your mind.” “Your depression a biological imbalance

not a psychological disturbance.”

The problem:


Identity TheoryIdentity TheoryIdentity TheoryIdentity Theory

The mind and the brain are the same thing Brain states are thoughts and feelings Implication

Machines or animals with different chemistry can’t have the same thoughts or feelings

Problem Do people with different brain chemistry then

not have the same thoughts or feelings? How specific must it be?


Animal sentience (again)Animal sentience (again)Animal sentience (again)Animal sentience (again)

Does an octopus feel pain? Does an oyster or a trout?

Does a rhesus monkey feel pain? when one of its testicles is ripped out

How would you tell? the difference between sensitivity and

sentience


SummarySummarySummarySummary

The intentional stance Describing an entity as if it has beliefs and

desires It is useful to model other entities as having

intentions It is possible (but hard) to test what models

of the world entities use Different levels of learning, intentionality

Alternatives Dualism Identity theory

lyle ungar, university of pennsylvania kinds of minds beyond turing: intentionality and its...

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