The coevolution : the entwined futures of humans and machines / Edward Ashford Lee.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lee, Edward A., 1957- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Computer systems--Philosophy.

Technology--Philosophy.

Human-computer interaction.

Computer systems.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

xviii, 358 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2020]

Summary:

"Richard Dawkins famously said that a chicken is an egg's way of making another egg. Is a human a computer's way of making another computer? Quite possibly, the software systems that have taken over so many aspects of our lives should themselves be viewed as living beings, part of the natural evolutionary process of life. They are creatures defined by bits, not DNA, and made of silicon and metal, not organic molecules. They are born and they die. Some are simple, with a genetic code of a few thousand bits, and some are extremely complex. Most live short lives, sometimes less than a second, while others live for months or years. Some even have prospects for immortality, prospects better than any organic being. Does it really make sense to view this technology as an emerging new life form on our planet? If so, will this new life form become sentient? Annihilate us? Merge with us, either physically or symbiotically? These systems extend our minds and shape our culture. Are we designing them, or are they designing us? Are we fundamentally different from them, or are we all computer programs, albeit running on different hardware? Lee argues that the assumption made by many that we humans, as cognitive beings, are actually computations ourselves, and therefore destined to be eclipsed by these digital systems, is a "dataist" faith, a scientifically indefensible belief. I also argue that humanity is rapidly coevolving with technology and that we will change as much we change it"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Half a Brain p. 1

2 The Meaning of "Life" p. 21

3 Are Computers Useless? p. 49

4 Say What You Mean p. 61

5 Negative Feedback p. 79

6 Explaining the Inexplicable p. 95

7 The Wrong Stuff p. 103

8 Am I Digital? p. 123

9 Intelligences p. 149

10 Accountability p. 171

11 Causes p. 205

12 Interaction p. 229

13 Pathologies p. 253

14 Coevolution p. 281.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780262043939

0262043939

OCLC:

1113301711

Publisher Number:

99984382893