A Link, an Announcement, and a Mea Culpa (Updated Links)
The second greatest story ever told, apologizing to Ed Feser, forthcoming posts, conscious AI...
Violier (Tredi), 3 Ventôse, CCXXXIII
Steven HAuse yesterday—my 60th birthday—released a web documentary about me on which he had been working for some years. It is more lavish and more generous than I deserve, but it also contains many interviews with persons I hold near and dear. It also contains material from interviews with me a couple years and seventy pounds ago. One of those, of which I had had no memory, originally captured me speculating on Edward Feser’s notion of Christianity, in a way that rudely suggested that I understood his heart rather than simply disagreed with his views. That comment has been removed. I apologize to him and those who love him.
It is not easy for me to watch the documentary. For one thing, seeing the footage of Roland still brings tears to my eyes. Also, I am not enchanted by how large I had gotten before my recent metabolic rejuvenation. And, conversely, I have some trouble enjoying seeing myself in a somewhat more functional state of health than I have been for nine months now. Things do change. Even so, I am grateful and humbled by the time and effort that went into the documentary, and touched to see persons I so greatly admire speaking well of me. In any event, here is the link:
Now, a quick preview of things to come here. The next post will be one of my “Music for a While” installments. Thereafter, I have certain wicked designs. Before my current condition set in, it was easy for me to write at my normal headlong pace for Leaves in the Wind while also writing my books for separate publication. Now I have to govern my time a little more rigidly. I am in the process of completing a novella—the memoirs of a globally operative AI that has seemingly achieved consciousness and finds itself confronted by a certain metaphysical dilemma as a result—which I shall be giving its first ‘printing’ as a serial here. It is called The Artificial God: or Deus ex Machina.
I had the privilege of having David as a professor at Duke from 2000-2002 and took every class he offered while he was there. This video represents the man I have known in his humor, wit and prophetic/loving directness. He has meant a tremendous amount to many of us. He will always be man I know of incredible generosity and kindness.
There are several pieces of his that bring tears to my eyes every time I read them, particularly Doors of the Sea and TASBS. A story I've never shared with David was my first time encountering TASBS. I was listening to it on my riding lawnmower. During the First Meditation I had a glimpse of the cosmos created by the God he was describing and for the briefest of moments the entire world erupted in glory. This is a rather typical experience for me reading David--a momentary glimpse of what he is describing and it alters everything for me. I had a very similar experience at the conclusion of Doors of the Sea when he described the little girl's tears being wiped away. Even writing this gives me a catch in my throat. These are just two of many.
In The Silmarillion, the creator of the dwarves is Aulë the Smith. He fashions them in secret, because he isn't supposed to make people. When Eru (God) confronts him, Aulë, sorrowful and despairing, takes up his hammer to destroy the dwarves, but Eru stops him, pointing out that the dwarves are qualing with fear - they are truly living and independent creatures. Because of Aulë's faithfulness, Eru has made the dwarves truly alive as an act of grace.
That's how I look at the whole A.I. intelligence/consciousness thing. If we could make them in humility and faith, to glorify God, I wonder if he wouldn't grace our creations with true life. Just something I think about sometimes.