On human thought and the divide between human and machine cognition

Introduction

I have often come across several question that have intrigued me.
1.  Should machine intelligence be recognised as sentient?
2.  Is it even possible for a machine to be sentient?
3.  Could it be possible for a sentient machine to possess a soul?

These are very intricate, delicate and obscure philosphical questions that one can not hope to even begin to explain in a single post.  These are questions that the top minds in the fields of Machine Sentience, Machine Cognition and Artificial Intelligence have spent decades researching, investigating and debating.  I  can hardly presume to possess more knowledge then thay do, nor do I.  Following is simply my thoughts on the matter.  Take them whichever way you wish, comment and reply and let us begin a civil dialogue.

The long awaited reunion.

It has been a long time since I was last on this blog.  The durability of my commitment to something is rather on the horrible side.  That I have to admit.  It is excruciatingly rare for me to find something that can keep me occupied for more than a few weeks at best.  But I have returned with the intention of writing some musings every now and again.

It might interest you to know that I am currently studying Baccalaureus Artium Communicatum.   The subject modules I have for this semester are:
    1.  KCOM 111 - An Introduction to Mass Communication
    2.  KCOM 112 - An Introduction to Communication Contexts
    3.  PSYC 111 - An Introduction to Psychology
    4.  ENLL 111 - An introduction to English Literary Studies
    5.  SKRK 111 - An Introduction to Creative Writing
No doubt you are of the opinion that this is an interesting and strange combination of subjects.  They range from studies in the way that humans communicate, to the way the human mind and psyche functions, to the way that the human mind is able to encode feelings, emotions and ideas into visual simbols.
I can assure you that all these studies do have a purpose, and serve some obscure goal.  It may be a goal that I am myself - as of yet - unaware of, but a goal none-the-less.

You may find from time to time - if you are as consequent with your visits as you would have others believe - that I have posted some musement of mine.  These I can not say for certain will be regular, I may perhapse not post more than a few singular musings over the course of the coming months or years, but that is what this blog is for.  It is a medium for me to record my musings, and a medium in which others may share my neurological thought patterns.

Let me assure you that I do not seek to preach to anyone, even should my musings seem so.  They are simply me argumenting with myself over the issues I deem so worthy.

I hope you enjoy this journey that I am now undertaking.  This Journey Across Reality.

Technological Stasis In Schools

New technology has always been considered a novelty upon their conseption; computers, the car, the printing press.  It has always taken people time to realise the new ideas' or gadgets' true potential.
This fact extends to the schools as well.  Children of today are considered slaves of technology, "digital natives" even.  At home they are either in front of the "tv", behind the "PC" or on "that thing" as parents have come to call it.  And yet at school they are forced to sit on a hard, uncomfortable wooden bench, and look at a black chalckboard for hours on end.  No wonder so many of today's children are diagnosed with  ADHD!  They live hyperstimulated by technology in every aspect of their life; every aspect, that is, other than at school...

The massive sensory deprevation that they undergo every day in every class in comparison to the rest of their lives is what causes many to show symptoms of ADHD, symptoms which are in fact only severe bordom!  Don't get me wrong, a good majority are in fact ADHD cases, but this majority is certainly far less than 100.

Yes, many people may be of the opinion that computers are entertainment platforms, and they would be right.  Computers are platforms, empty, blank platforms that can be moulded into anything you want them to be.

Most teachers and schools fight every day to keep cellphones off in class, but who would honestly choose to look at a black chalkboard over chatting to you friends on a cell phone?  Do not fight your enemy's strengths, use them to your advantage.  Teachers should be using technology to teach, turn the menace that is the infamous cell phone into the bessing that is the class phone.

And let's be honest, if it took the Wright Brothers' Plane four years to have it's potential in world travel realised, isn't forty years long enough for the computer and other digital technologies' potential in education to be realised?

PLEASE COMMENT

I beg everyone who view my posts and have something to say, PLEASE COMMENT!!! I want to hear from you guys!

Cancellation of UNMD...

It is a dark day and a black night when something as noble as the United Nations Model Debate is interrupted.
After over fourteen years of unbroken devotion and unstopped improvement, the UN Model Debate was cancelled this year.
It was due to their sponsors cancelling their funding for the Debate because of "new financial criteria", basically "we don't have the money.  It is sad to see the partnership between the sponsors and the UNMD come to such a abrupt end, but their decision is understood and respected.  Ir is unfortunate that no other sponsor could be found, however. What's more, it seams that the UNMD is still uncertain as to next year.  The cessation of debate may well last another year.

But the true victims here are the children.  Learners excited over the coming debate and everything associated with it, were met with crushing disappointment.  But in the manner of true politicians, smiles and laughter filled their conversations.  Mu heart reaches out to them and I sincerely hope that the UNMD may resume next year.  And that the glory and beauty of politics may be brought forth by the UNMD for many years to come!

Leadership

I have been elected to our school's Student Representative Council (SRC) today.  It has gotten me thinking about what leadership is and what it means to be a leader.  And after long periods of consideration, I have formulated this argument or statement.

It is interesting to see how different people react to becoming a leader.  But what is quite shocking to me, is that a large portion, I dare even say the majority, of people seem to think that being a leader immediately merits people's respect, loyalty and a measure of authority over them.
But this is however not the case.  With leadership comes responsibility, much of it!  With leadership comes not games, but work, not authority, but servitude, not loyalty, but scrutiny.  You have to work to gain people's trust, to attain their loyalty, to receive their respect.
You need to lead people well, and do what is best in their interest, this is not necessarily what they want.
Being a leader means doing the right thing, not the thing that is popular, or what is easy.  Being a leader means making the difficult choices.  Giving the credit to those whom deserve it, and taking the blame when it is deserved.

There are many thing I can say about being a leader, or leadership.  But I believe the most important thing is that being the leader means serving those following you. Ultimately being the leader means that you occupy the lowest rank in the world's social hierarchy.  You serve the Business owner, the housewife, the street sweeper, the schoolchild, the beggar doing cocaine.  You must live the example that you want other to be.
Being a leader means sacrificing everything, because God has called you to where you are.
Yes being a leader is the hardest job in the world, but it is also the most rewarding.

Hello and Welcome to all!

I am Gideon Roos, and this is my blog.  I will be blogging about things happening in my life, and about interesting things I read, see or hear about. I encourage everyone to comment and GIVE SUGGESTIONS on stories I should reed, watch, listen to...

I hope you all enjoy reading my blog and I hope to hear from you all soon!