THE HUMAN AS AN INFORMATION PROCESSOR
Date
1985-04-01
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Abstract
Human progress and uniqueness are both founded, in practical terms, on
an ability to process information effectively. In less tangible, but
equally visible terms humans have been distinguished by their
humanity; such specifically human traits as altruism, self-sacrifice,
love, and faith. It is no accident that benevolence is a synonym
for humanity. In contempory times, progress (in the guise of scientific
discovery and development, and their engineering application) has, for
some, eroded the notion of human uniqueness: (a) partly by 'explaining'
the universe and apparently, thereby, denying the need for God and any
special relationship He might have with humanity; (b) partly by
explaining the human as a purely physical mechanism lacking any
intangible component or vital spark; and (c) partly by creating increasingly
sophisticated replacements for supposedly unique human talents. This
paper considers the relationship between humans and their artifacts,
and attempts to justify the view of the human as an information
processor. The paper goes on to examine the implications of that view
for our ideas of human uniqueness in the contempory world, especially
a world in which the current epoch is described as the Information
Revolution. An information revolution would seem to impinge directly
on humanity's private preserve both by challenging human uniqueness, and
by threatening to render humans redundant within the society they have
created. The conclusions are that people continue to make exaggerated
claims on behalf of science, including information technology, and
that humans will continue to be unique as purposeful, spiritual beings.
However, this is no reason for complacency. There is too much wrong
with the human community. As computers do for brains what steam engines
and the like did for muscles, we must bend our unique humanity to the
benefit of humanity. If we fail in this we shall truly cease to be human.
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Computer Science