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The following story is based on a joke I once heard about the scientist who invented an "infallible" voice-activated computer. He invited a panel of experts, including a philosopher/theolgian, to test his invention. After answering numerous questions by the experts, correctly, about the earth and its inhabitants--past and present--and about the know universe, the philosopher/theologian chose to ask the following: "Is there a God?". The computer responded: "There IS, NOW!"
QUOTE
References:
http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/html/astro.html
"It's one small step in the history of space flight. But it was one giant leap for computer-kind, with a state of the art artificial intelligence system being given primary command of a spacecraft."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/26/d...n.ap/index.html
http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/html/astro.html
"It's one small step in the history of space flight. But it was one giant leap for computer-kind, with a state of the art artificial intelligence system being given primary command of a spacecraft."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/26/d...n.ap/index.html
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John Theodore Kell was a brilliant mathematician, a physicist and computer scientist who was totally dedicated to his work. He also had a social conscience. He actually believed that what he was doing had meaning and purpose and was of practical value for all of society. While he was most interested in the hard sciences he was not disinterested in philosophy, even theology and metaphysics, but with a healthy skepticism. Theologically speaking, he was a curious agnostic, who kept an open mind. ********work needed here********
THE MIRACLE OF TELEVISION
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In the summer of 1969, he and his family, while on vacation, near Fredericton, NB, witnessed, via the miracle of television, the landing of the first man on the moon. "One small step for man; one giant step for mankind." said Neil Armstrong. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong
Interestingly he was born, January 14; Armstrong was born in August 5 of that same year, 1930.
At thirty-nine, John was given the exciting responsibility of heading up the computer-technology department of his universIty, which to his delight, had just received a sizeable grant to promote the exploration of the future of cybernetics and the role of computers.
[References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics_Society ]
Well aware of what computers had done to advance space exploration he was more than pleased to be in on the opportunity to begin the work.
Back to 1969: Following his vacation, he began the task of bringing together a team of brilliant scientists and technicians--men and women, from all over the globe--all with the same goal. For the next decade and more, just before the advent of the personal computer, he spent the time developing a powerful, quantum and voice-activated computer. Based on principles first proposed by some scientists at MIT, Boston--where, by the way, he did some post graduate studies in 1954 and 1955. In his mid-twenties, for two years he explored the theme, The History of Ideas. He also explored the nature of knowledge and/or information and how it gets passed on from person to person and from generation to generation--the very stuff of the Information Age, in which increasing numbers of the six billion people on planet earth are becoming more and more involved. Of parallel importance is what we call the Computer Age, especially the personal computer.
THE MIRACLE OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER
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Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa050298.htm
QUOTE
By the way, the computer as we know it is not the invention of one person. It came into being as the result of the work of many minds over the centuries. However, the work of Konrad Zuse deserves a special mention.
Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) was a construction engineer for the Henschel Aircraft Company in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of WWII. Konrad Zuse earned the semiofficial title of "inventor of the modern computer" for his series of automatic calculators, which he invented to help him with his lengthy engineering calculations. Zuse has modestly dismissed the title while praising many of the inventions of his contemporaries and successors as being equally if not more important than his own.
One of the most difficult aspects of doing a large calculation with either a slide rule or a mechanical adding machine is keeping track of all intermediate results and using them, in their proper place, in later steps of the calculation. Konrad Zuse wanted to overcome that difficulty. He realized that an automatic-calculator device would require three basic elements: a control, a memory, and a calculator for the arithmetic.
Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) was a construction engineer for the Henschel Aircraft Company in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of WWII. Konrad Zuse earned the semiofficial title of "inventor of the modern computer" for his series of automatic calculators, which he invented to help him with his lengthy engineering calculations. Zuse has modestly dismissed the title while praising many of the inventions of his contemporaries and successors as being equally if not more important than his own.
One of the most difficult aspects of doing a large calculation with either a slide rule or a mechanical adding machine is keeping track of all intermediate results and using them, in their proper place, in later steps of the calculation. Konrad Zuse wanted to overcome that difficulty. He realized that an automatic-calculator device would require three basic elements: a control, a memory, and a calculator for the arithmetic.
Using the latest in computer technology, John T, and others, set out to explore the computer as a tool and how it can help us understand the nature and function of the universe--physically, mentally and spiritually.
At that time, the computer was not yet on the cutting-edge of the very new field of artificial inteligence. Personal computers were not yet available for the average family.
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REVISE, HERE
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Later, they succeeded in developing a computer which was so powerful that, within seconds, one could ask a question and, within minutes, could get credible answers to a vast variety of questions, no matter what questions were asked about what subjects, which were asked of it by the team. And it did this in the language spoken by the operator. For the benefit of others, there was, of course, the best possible translation available.
Interestingly, J T, as he was affectionately called, was, as I have indicated above, somewhat of a--shall we say--curious and open-minded agnostic. When asked, he acknowledged that he was somewhat inclined to be spiritual ,without aligning himself with any particular brand of organized religion. Speaking of which, it so happened that he was the husband of the daughter of a thelogically conservative minister. His father-in-law was very personable. However, theologically, he had a child-like and an unquestioning faith in the God of the Bible, which he thought of as being the word of God. But he was not a Bible thumper.
JT's wife was Maud Elisabeth King. She was a psychologist, who did her basic studies in the day (the forties and fifties)when psychology was part of the department of philosophy. Mount Allison http://www.mta.ca was in the small, unique, but widely-respected university, connected with the United Church of Canada. Just before the birth of her first child, she taught a basic course in philosophy at the same university of which her husband was a professor.
With the birth of their first child, both she and JT made the decision: "Despite the financial cost, we will not leave our children to be raise without a parent, and/or grand parent, being around, until they are old enough to understand what is going on."
This meant that Maud stayed home to help raise the three children until the youngest was at least twelve.
Despite the fact that both he and his wife had differences of opinion with the philosophy and theology of Maud's father, the Rev. King, Maud and JT both loved, accepted and respected him for who he was. The whole family resolved to remain united under one principle, love one another.
This meant that all their conversations were more dialogues than debates. They were a about practical philosophy, the sciences, the arts and religion, and they were always friendly ones. Invariably, their dialogues centered around subjects filled with meaning and aimed at developing ways and means of making the world a better one in which there could be peace and justice for all.
One day, the John T phoned his father-in-law--He lived not too far from where his son-in-law's lab was. JT said: "Father, come to my lab when you can. I have something to show you.
About an hour later the father arrived.
"Dad" JT said, with a
"Voltaire once said that if God did not exist, we would have to invent him. Well, with the help of my team I think I have finally done just that.... Just joking! ... But perhaps we have ... Shall we say?... gotten in touch with God. Come to my lab and see for yourself.""What!!! What are you talking about, son?" his father asked, in amazement.
As JT's father-in-law sat in front of the computer screen, the son said, "Let me put it this way, dad: I have put together this voice-activated computer, which has been able to answer any question that comes to my mind. I turn on the computer, ask any question which comes to my mind, and it gives me an answer." Then he gave a demonstration.
No matter what question he asked, the computer gave the answer. "This computer is god-like, dad, don't you think?" he asked with a friendly grin. The father responded, "Your computer is YOUR creation, son. You've no doubt put information, into the system, which you and your experts already know. You know the old saying: GIGO--garbage in; garbage out! I hope you have programmed more "
The son, actually loved his father. He simply questioned his father's child-like faith. Then he challenged him to at least test out the computer in his own way. He said, "Dad, this computer has been tested by a panel of experts. Now it is your turn to find out for yourself. Ask it questions about things that you only know about--questions about things that you may know and that I do not know. Maybe you can think of questions about subjects of which even you know little, or nothing."
The father, who also loved his son, agreed to give it a try.
Sure enough, no matter what question the father--who was well read in philosophy, science, history, the Bible, theology, even mundane subjects, such as sports (which he loved)--asked, the computer gave the right answer.The father was impressed.
Then he said, "You know son, that I have always been a man of faith, but I confess that there have been times when I have had my doubts as to whether or not there really is a God. The sudden death of your older brother, despite all those prayers, was especially troubling to me, as, I am sure it must have been to you."
"And" said the son, "Look at the millions of prayer that go up to heaven, constantly. Every day, millions of people, of all religions, pray to God for peace and justice. Every day Christians pray, 'Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done...deliver us from evil' they say. But it doesn't happen. Something must be wrong. Where is this ONE God who is supposed to be the Loving and all-powerful Father of all of Us? If he is all-powerful, he is NOT all-loving. If he is all-loving, he is not all-powerful!"
"Yes, son... I have often asked myself the same kind of questions."
Delighted to hear his father-in-law's attitude and his humble confession of his personal feelings, his son-in-law replied: "Okay Dad, now is our chance to get an answer. Why don't we ask the computer? Tell you what! Why don't you go ahead and pop questions about the nature, existence and role of God?"
There followed a moment of silence.
The father-in-law agreed. Then screwing up his courage, he asked, gingerly: "Computer, please tell us: Is there a one true God who is separate and apart from us and creation? When you answer this, I have more questions.
There was a long pause.... Then the computer began giving off a glorious light, accompanied by the sound of beautiful music, which filled the whole room. Out of the light came a clear, strong, loving sound ... it sounded more like a god-like chorus of male and female voices:
GOD is not A Being
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"No. There is no such a thing as an objective, human, person-like, super and god-like being, one who lives in what you call heaven. What you call, God, is an idol, which, understandibly, we--and we are all one--have created. It is the product of our powerful human imaginations! Keep in mind: the imagination is a powerful tool, which is equal to, if not more important than, knowledge.
"But, keep in mind: The imagination can be manipulated and deceived so that we individuals will sometimes make some very wrong choices. "
This was followed by a period of deep silence.
"But fear not. we are impressed by the sincere desire of you and your son-law have for something better than there is, in the way of religion. We see that both have a desire to live moral, ethical and loving lives. Your positive mental attitude is to be admired. You actually do love life and the natural world, and despite your differences, you also love, honour, forgive, accept and respect one another. In addition, you treat all you meet with this same kind of loving respect. You actually do practice the Golden Rule. Both of you demonstrate your faith by your actions. You believe in deeds, not just creeds.
"May we remind you: We speak, not just for ourselves, but for all, now and in the past, who gave, and continue to give, their lives in service to the highest good. We are just now at the beginning of the exploration of total Nature, including the earth, the other planets, the sun and the billion of galaxies of this mysterious cosmos.
"Be patient. Let us take the time to become more and more conscious of who we really are. Heaven is not a place to which we all go. It is the enjoying of Goodness, Order and Design in the eternal and infinite Now--physically, mentally and spiritually.
'Be thankful for your opportunity to be involved in philosophy, science and the arts, now and in the future. This exploration of infinity will take all of us an eternity. The best news of all is: We now feel and know that, deep within, around, below and above, there is available, if we so choose to accept it, an infallible guide. So what are we waiting for? There is much wonderful and joyful work to be done."
"Dad" said the son-in-law, "If this is what God is, I am no longer an agnostic. I now KNOW there is GOD." And the father added, "AMEN!"
BTW, this story will be revised and expanded over the next while. Readers suggestions and help will be appreciated.