learning by heart LO21740

Steve_Kelner@cqm.org
Wed, 26 May 1999 09:39:11 -0400

Replying to LO21712 --

Winfried said:

> My point is that the meaning of the word VERFLUCHT could not be stored on
> the computer. No meaning can ever be stored on a computer or on paper. The
> meaning of the above example is contextual and made by a person. The
> context is given by the actual situation, which is for an American, German
> or Dutch speaking person different.

> The idea of knowledge management is a fake; at least if you look at the
> theories and attempts of those who think they can store knowledge on
> computers. They will fail.

In fact, your letter only proved that the information storage is
incomplete. A set of letters is information, whether it is VERFLUCHT or
GOSTAK, having reduced the potential content down to those nine letters,
which follow one of a limited set of rules for pronunciation. Adding
specific pronunciation (e.g., German versus my American accent) is another
layer, adding semantic content (e.g., definition for a German versus a
Belgian) is a third. Your letter does nearly all these things, and
therefore counteracts your own assertion.

Knowledge management is not a fake, it is merely overstated. What you do
well in this letter is warn us to have _enough_ knowledge to be sure you
have captured what you intend. But if it were not possible to capture
meaning on paper, Shakespeare would only have been able to present to
himself.

Most artificial intelligence has been created in a way that does not
imitate the actual intelligence of the human brain. We will not see
human-like intelligence out of machines until they can replicate our way
of thinking. So saying that no software has come up with a feeling is
like saying no bicycle can fly--it wasn't built for it, so it doesn't
happen.

Steve Kelner
Director, Educational and Advising Services
Center for Quality of Management
http://www.cqm.org

-- 

Steve_Kelner@cqm.org

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