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The difference between code and literature is that, while both can be abstract, code must ultimately be executed unambiguously. Underneath all the abstraction i

by _mhr_ 10y ago

The difference between code and literature is that, while both can be abstract, code must ultimately be executed unambiguously. Underneath all the abstraction is concrete meaning. This is unlike literature, which concerns ineffable concepts like hopelessness and anguish - qualia. We don't program fuzzy, human ideas. Otherwise, a computer wouldn't be able to do anything.

naasking 10y ago
> This is unlike literature, which concerns ineffable concepts like hopelessness and anguish - qualia. They may be ineffable to computers (at this time), but they are not ineffable to us. We can ascribe meaning to these words, and programming languages do the same thing. They provide a language with common meanings that both a compiler and humans can understand.
posterboy 10y ago
The whole idea of deep learning is based on fuzzy conception; random stochastic evaluation plays a huge role for any huge or fast amount of data. btw, Qualia is a meaningless concept to me, not ineffable; concepts definitely are. On the other hand, some philosophical ideas might just be plain wrong and thus not possibly translate to code that had to be logical (unambiguously). Why wouldn't there be logic behind?
- pron 10y ago
  Deep learning (which is just a particular configuration of backpropagation in neural networks, which in turn is just a particular statistical learning algorithm) is an algorithm for statistical classification. Whether or not statistical classification is at the core -- or even plays a significant role -- in any kind of true conception is unknown.
- theoh 10y ago
  Is qualia meaningless to you because you are a stubborn follower of Daniel Dennett, or are you open to being convinced that the word refers to something?
  - posterboy 10y ago
    > Qualia: plural of Quale > Quale: A property considered separately from a thing having that property I just don't like the word. Why not call it property? > qualophile: A cognitive scientist who endorses qualia as being unmeasurable by heterophenomenology. That's new to me, but yeah, when I hear the term it is used to describe properties that are not discretely measurable and to me those might as well just not exist, or wrong as far as that relates to the grand parent post.

by _mhr_ 10y ago

naasking 10y ago

> This is unlike literature, which concerns ineffable concepts like hopelessness and anguish - qualia. They may be ineffable to computers (at this time), but they are not ineffable to us. We can ascribe meaning to these words, and programming languages do the same thing. They provide a language with common meanings that both a compiler and humans can understand.

posterboy 10y ago

The whole idea of deep learning is based on fuzzy conception; random stochastic evaluation plays a huge role for any huge or fast amount of data. btw, Qualia is a meaningless concept to me, not ineffable; concepts definitely are. On the other hand, some philosophical ideas might just be plain wrong and thus not possibly translate to code that had to be logical (unambiguously). Why wouldn't there be logic behind?

pron 10y ago
Deep learning (which is just a particular configuration of backpropagation in neural networks, which in turn is just a particular statistical learning algorithm) is an algorithm for statistical classification. Whether or not statistical classification is at the core -- or even plays a significant role -- in any kind of true conception is unknown.
theoh 10y ago
Is qualia meaningless to you because you are a stubborn follower of Daniel Dennett, or are you open to being convinced that the word refers to something?
- posterboy 10y ago
  > Qualia: plural of Quale > Quale: A property considered separately from a thing having that property I just don't like the word. Why not call it property? > qualophile: A cognitive scientist who endorses qualia as being unmeasurable by heterophenomenology. That's new to me, but yeah, when I hear the term it is used to describe properties that are not discretely measurable and to me those might as well just not exist, or wrong as far as that relates to the grand parent post.