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I'm not sure why you were down voted for that. It's obviously just an opinion, but you acknowledged that. It certainly wasn't unrelated, disrespectful or inappr

I'm not sure why you were down voted for that. It's obviously just an opinion, but you acknowledged that. It certainly wasn't unrelated, disrespectful or inappropriate. My only argument against that would be to point out that a great many things have no basis in science or mathematics but are still considered to have value. For example philosophy or art. While the test might have no logical basis, it does form a base line, in the same way that the a unit of measurement (the kilogram for example) may have no other logical basis, it is something which can can be agreed on and thus compared against.

jlgreco 14y ago
Indeed, the Turing Test is far from perfect. The value I see in it is taht as far as a tool to assist ethical decisions, I have yet to hear of a better alternative. (The necessity of such a tool is, at this point, hypothetical. However I think it is important to have one in the event that it ever becomes necessary in reality).
Danieru 14y ago
I think the issue is how damienkatz's comment implied that Turing only had the Turing Test to his credit. If anything the Turing Test is a game, or thought experiment, and only the tip of Turing's accomplishments.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Agreed, that is why I downvoted him. It is one of Turings greatest known ideas (commonly known of to some degree among the general population) likely because it involves provocative claims and conclusions (particularly so for its time). But to claim that Turing isn't great because you have an issue with the Turing Test is like claiming Einstein wasn't great because you think his anti-nuclear activism was misplaced. Rather missing the point of why we consider the man important.
  - phaus 14y ago
    He never said or implied that Turing isn't great, but he did say "Turing IS Amazing." He just happens to think the Turing Test is overrated.
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      In my experience, when somebody starts a monologue with the pattern "[assertion], but", what follows is a more honest presentation of their opinions than the initial assertion.

jlgreco 14y ago

Indeed, the Turing Test is far from perfect. The value I see in it is taht as far as a tool to assist ethical decisions, I have yet to hear of a better alternative. (The necessity of such a tool is, at this point, hypothetical. However I think it is important to have one in the event that it ever becomes necessary in reality).

Danieru 14y ago

I think the issue is how damienkatz's comment implied that Turing only had the Turing Test to his credit. If anything the Turing Test is a game, or thought experiment, and only the tip of Turing's accomplishments.

jlgreco 14y ago
Agreed, that is why I downvoted him. It is one of Turings greatest known ideas (commonly known of to some degree among the general population) likely because it involves provocative claims and conclusions (particularly so for its time). But to claim that Turing isn't great because you have an issue with the Turing Test is like claiming Einstein wasn't great because you think his anti-nuclear activism was misplaced. Rather missing the point of why we consider the man important.
- phaus 14y ago
  He never said or implied that Turing isn't great, but he did say "Turing IS Amazing." He just happens to think the Turing Test is overrated.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    In my experience, when somebody starts a monologue with the pattern "[assertion], but", what follows is a more honest presentation of their opinions than the initial assertion.