4 ms·

What's thinking, if not finding the minima/maxima of a multidimensional space?

• probably_wrong 2y ago
  The molecules of a rock keep it together because breaking up would require more energy than staying as it currently is [1]. In other words, a rock is the result of finding a minimal (energy in this case) in a multidimensional space. If finding a minima is thinking then rocks are intelligent. Thinking may involve finding minimal/maxima, but it's not a 1-to-1 relation. I'd argue that thinking requires a will component: a sunflower is not a thinking entity because it doesn't have the choice not to follow the sun. [1] https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/444307/does-a-rock-use-up-energy-to-maintain-its-shape https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/444307/does-a-ro...
  • gosub100 2y ago
    This is a good point. However maybe the trouble comes from the word "find"? If a natural force such as gravity or thermodynamics results in a state of energy conservation, maybe that isn't the result of "finding"? I know it's a semantics issue but it seems to solve the conundrum. If you spend energy to discover information, vs letting nature take you there, maybe that's the delineation?