On 12/29/07, Bulat Ziganshin
just imagine compiling of this program without pencil and paper and you will draw conclusion that computers have power of deduction that humans definitely doesn't have. and it's only one aspect which doesn't take into account duration of human life (of course if we want to say about *real humans* and not abstract mathematical model of immortals), difference between people's abilities (it's common mistake to compare abilities of one concrete computer with MAXIMUM of abilities of all people, including whose in all future generations), don't take into account that human by itself, at the moment of birth doesn't know anything about mathematics and even can't speak - he is programmed by society to acquire these skills
I haven't been following this thread, but anyone interested in this question might want to read Daniel Dennett's essay "Fast Thinking", in his book _The Intentional Stance_.
so, computers are definitely more advanced devices - they was created to. we (humanity) just don't yet finished development of the program which at some moment will make them able to further develop itself without our help. if you believe that human is superior to computer you should also believe that bacterium is superior to human
The only thing that computers can do that humans can't is to work without getting bored. Cheers, Tim -- Tim Chevalier * http://cs.pdx.edu/~tjc * Often in error, never in doubt "It's mad to be in love with someone else / When you're in love with him, she's in love with me / But you know as well as I do I can never think of anyone but you" -- Pet Shop Boys