XPost: comp.lang.lisp   
   From: news.mail@chello.no   
      
   "Don Geddis" wrote in message   
   news:409a8696$1@news.unimelb.edu.au...   
   > "wim"  wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004:   
   > > Out of curiousity, why is LISP so highly regarded in the AI   
   > > field still?   
   >   
   > Lisp is a superbly designed language, appropriate for almost   
   > any application. Especially for solving problems where the   
   > solution isn't well understood, and much trial and error (aka   
   > rapid prototyping) is required.   
   >   
   > AI happens to be filled with many problems like this.   
   >   
   > > Pardon my ignorance, but I thought something more akin to   
   > > Prolog might be better.   
   >   
   > Logical inference is a part of the solution of many (but not   
   > all) AI problems. However, automated deduction doesn't workal   
   > very well (yet?) to solve non-trivi problems.   
   >   
   > Experience shows that languages like Prolog are less easy   
   > to use than procedural languages, especially when trying to   
   > encode procedural information (such as an algorithm).   
      
   One of the qualities of Prolog is that it allows procedural   
   programming, and consequently is constantly under attack by   
   LP'ers, who just happen to be those who use Prolog most! :)   
      
   > That's not to say that an AI system might not want a rules   
   > engine also. But merely that logical rules and deduction (aka   
   > Prolog) isn't the best substrate for much of the effort.   
      
   In many instances Prolog is, it all depends on the nature   
   of your application.   
      
   > A good procedural language is better.  And Lisp is one of the   
   > best.   
      
   I don't buy that either. Firstly, Lisp is a functional, not   
   a procedural, language. Secondly, GUI's are better done in   
   an object oriented or procedural language, as are _some_   
   solutions to algorithmic problems. The truth is that most   
   AI/CI problems are better tackled by using a combination of   
   programming languages.   
      
   Ignorance is bliss, but you shouldn't always display it. :)   
      
   --   
   Mail sent to this email address is automatically deleted   
   (unread) on the server. Send replies to the newsgroup.   
      
   [ comp.ai is moderated.  To submit, just post and be patient, or if ]   
   [ that fails mail your article to , and ]   
   [ ask your news administrator to fix the problems with your system. ]   
   ------------ And now a word from our sponsor ------------------   
   Do your users want the best web-email gateway? Don't let your   
   customers drift off to free webmail services install your own   
   web gateway!   
   --  See http://netwinsite.com/sponsor/sponsor_webmail.htm  ----   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)