From: melbella@uci.net   
      
   Guido wrote:   
   > Ken from Chicago wrote:   
   >   
   >>   
   >> P.S. Intelligence = the ability to discern patterns.   
   >   
   >   
   > In my opinion, that does not denote intelligence. A sieve can be   
   > designed to sort (discern) shapes into patterns and has none at all.   
   >   
   > Intelligence is a vague term, at best. Most would agree that it is the   
   > ability to rationalize. But even plants have shown signs of a   
   > rudimentary intelligence by releasing pheromones that cause others of   
   > their kind to generate pesticides, when attacked by insects. Patterns of   
   > numbers are discerned even by mechanical adding machines.   
   >   
   > Webster's defines it: The ability to learn or understand or to deal with   
   > new or trying situations.   
   >   
   > hmmmmm...   
      
   Intelligence /= sentience   
      
   Any decent e'mail filter can "learn" what to keep out and what to let   
   in, but they are nowhere near sentient.   
      
      
      
   Mel   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)