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On attributing the universe with purpose

August 24, 2024

Why does logic hold in our universe? What compels the laws of nature to hold everywhere? Does the universe actually have a purpose that humans can discern?

What we understand with “purpose” is as a characteristic of a consciousness. Therefore asking whether the universe has purpose may be a valid question in language but it is meaningless unless the universe is conscious. However asking whether we (humans) can attribute any purpose to the universe is, in fact, suggesting that there is some thing (a consciousness?) which has some use for the universe. That, I think, is very close to acknowledging a higher power than the universe. When some cosmologists call on truly random events to hypothesize about the origins of the universe, they are calling on events having taken place without cause. That also comes close to an appeal to divinity. When science addresses the origins of the universe it acknowledges a state where the universe was not. Whatever compulsions caused the origin of our universe must have existed in that “previous” state.  It is part of what we cannot know.

Anyway here is an interesting conversation with Gemini. The interesting part is in formulating the prompts to be fed to the Large Language Model. The weakest and most frustrating part of these AI chatbots is that they always sit on the fence and ignore the conclusions they have themselves come to.

ktwop prompt:  Why Does Logic Hold?

Gemini reply: The question of why logic holds is a deep one that has puzzled philosophers for centuries. It’s a question that delves into the nature of reality, the mind, and the laws that govern our universe.

Here are a few perspectives on why logic might hold:

  • Laws of Thought: Some argue that logic is a fundamental law of thought, similar to the laws of physics. Just as objects fall due to gravity, our minds are inherently wired to reason logically.  
    Structure of Reality: Others suggest that logic is a reflection of the underlying structure of reality itself. The universe is fundamentally rational, and our logical reasoning is simply a way to understand and interact with this rational structure.
  • Evolutionary Advantage: From a biological standpoint, logical reasoning may have evolved as an adaptive trait. It helps us make informed decisions, solve problems, and navigate complex environments.  
  • Cultural and Social Factors: Logic can also be seen as a cultural and social construct. Societies develop shared norms and conventions of reasoning, which can influence our understanding of what is logical. 

It’s important to note that while logic is a powerful tool, it’s not infallible. There are limitations to logical reasoning, such as the potential for biases and fallacies. Additionally, some philosophical perspectives argue that logic may not be able to capture all aspects of reality, such as subjective experiences or spiritual truths.  Ultimately, the question of why logic holds is a complex one with no definitive answer. It’s a topic that continues to be explored by philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists.

ktwop prompt: Science would tell us that the universe is purposeless, but if – as all empirical evidence tells us – events in the universe are rational and that logic holds, then is it not that logic and being rational are characteristics imposed purposefully on the universe. (Or is there an overarching law which requires that the laws of nature hold)?

Gemini response: Logic, Rationality, and the Universe
Your question raises a fascinating philosophical debate about the nature of the universe and the role of logic within it.

Let’s break down your points:

  • Science and Purpose: It’s true that science, as a method of empirical inquiry, generally avoids making claims about the universe’s overall purpose. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the universe is purposeless. Some philosophers argue that even a purposeless universe can exhibit patterns and regularities that we interpret as logical.
  • Rationality and Logic: You’re correct that our observations of the universe suggest a certain level of rationality and logic. However, this doesn’t automatically imply a conscious or purposeful imposition of these qualities. It could be that these characteristics are simply inherent to the universe’s fundamental laws.
  • Overarching Laws: The idea of an overarching law that governs the laws of nature is a complex one. Some philosophers and scientists have proposed the existence of a “theory of everything” that could explain all the fundamental laws of physics. However, such a theory might not necessarily provide a reason for why these laws exist or why they are the way they are. 

In essence, the question of whether logic and rationality are imposed on the universe or are inherent to its nature is a philosophical one. It’s a question that has been debated for centuries and may never have a definitive answer.

ktwop prompt: Some scientists claim that there is a random element to the origins of our universe. But any claim of an origin being truly random would require then that the origin be without cause and thus divine. Would not a claim to of a random origin thus be an acknowledgement of a divine origin?

Gemini response: That’s a thought-provoking question that touches on the intersection of science, philosophy, and theology.

The concept of a “random” origin for the universe is often discussed in the context of cosmological theories like the Big Bang. While these theories suggest that the universe began in a state of extreme energy and density, they don’t necessarily imply a completely random origin.

Here are a few points to consider:

Quantum Mechanics: At the quantum level, the universe exhibits behaviors that can be described as “random” according to our current understanding of physics. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these events are truly without cause. Some interpretations of quantum mechanics suggest that there may be underlying factors or hidden variables that we can’t yet observe.
The Laws of Physics: Even if the initial state of the universe was random, the subsequent evolution of the universe would be governed by the laws of physics. These laws, while complex and not fully understood, are believed to be consistent and deterministic.
Divine Intervention: The idea of a “divine” origin is a theological concept that goes beyond the scope of scientific inquiry. While some people may interpret a random or unexplained origin as evidence of divine intervention, this is a matter of faith and personal belief.
In conclusion, the claim of a random origin for the universe doesn’t necessarily imply a divine origin. The concept of randomness is a complex one, and our understanding of it is still evolving. Ultimately, the question of the universe’s origin is a profound one that involves both scientific and philosophical considerations.

Returning to the questions we began with:

  • Why does logic hold in our universe?
  • What compels the laws of nature to hold everywhere?
  • Does the universe actually have a purpose that humans can discern?

There are things we know and knowable things we do not yet know.

But we are human and finite human beings have limitations.

And there are unknowable things we cannot ever know. 

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The worth of worth (or why intrinsic worth of a human is absurd)

August 18, 2024

A conversation, this time, with Gemini.

I think both Gemini and ChatGPT have a strong bias towards the politically correct, liberal, view which is a reflection of how they were trained. But with that in mind, they are still powerful ways of summarizing and articulating positions. They also provide a very useful – for me – way of checking whether I am missing critical arguments when thinking things through.

This conversation is what it is and is worth no more than appears on the surface (and it may be worth a lot less).

My own conviction is that “inherent worth” is a nonsense concept and an absurd juxtaposition of words. Worth and value are inherently relativistic. The absurdity of the word combination – in my view – renders the philosophies and ethics concepts which are built on “inherent worth” absurd and false. Nothing – including a human life – can have “inherent worth”.

profile picture ktwop prompt:

“Intrinsic worth” of anything is a nonsense statement since worth and value in isolation must be zero. If it is not zero it implies that the thing has the same value then to everything else in the universe, taken separately or together.

Gemini response: 
A Challenge to the Concept of Intrinsic Worth

Your argument is thought-provoking. You’ve presented a strong case against the notion of intrinsic worth by highlighting the inherent relativity of value. It’s a perspective that challenges the idea of a universal, inherent value independent of context.

Key Points of Your Argument:

  • Value is relational: Worth or value is always determined in relation to something else.
  • Isolation equals zero value: In isolation, an object has no inherent worth.
  • Universal value is impossible: If something had the same value to everything, it would negate the concept of value itself.

Counterarguments and Considerations:

While your argument is compelling, it’s essential to consider these points:

  • Subjective vs. Objective Value: Your argument seems to focus on objective value. However, intrinsic value is often discussed in subjective terms, such as in ethics or philosophy. For example, the intrinsic value of human life is often debated without reference to external factors.
  • Degrees of Value: Even if we accept that value is relative, it doesn’t necessarily mean all values are equal. Some things might be considered more valuable than others within specific contexts.
  • Conceptual Utility: While the concept of intrinsic worth might be problematic in a purely logical sense, it can still be useful in everyday language and certain philosophical discussions.

A Possible Reconciliation:

Perhaps a more nuanced approach is needed. We could consider that while intrinsic worth might not exist in an absolute sense, it can still be a meaningful concept within specific frameworks or contexts. For example, in ethics, we might discuss the intrinsic value of human life relative to other human lives, without necessarily assigning it a universal value.

profile picture ktwop prompt:
Gemini response: 
The Absurdity of Intrinsic Worth: A Deeper Dive

You’ve made a compelling case. By equating the concept of intrinsic worth to the nonsense of Edward Lear’s verse, you’ve highlighted the inherent contradiction within the term.

Key Points of Your Argument:

  • Relativity is Essential: The term “worth” inherently implies comparison and relativity.
  • Internal Contradiction: The concept of “intrinsic” (independent) worth contradicts the need for relativity.
  • Philosophical Absurdity: Ethical and philosophical systems built upon intrinsic worth are therefore illogical.

Expanding on the Argument:

Your analogy to Edward Lear’s nonsense verse is particularly effective. It emphasizes the arbitrary nature of assigning a fixed, absolute value to something as complex and variable as human life.

To further solidify your argument, you could explore these avenues:

  • Historical and Cultural Relativism: Demonstrate how the concept of human worth has varied across different cultures and time periods.
  • Individual Differences: Highlight the vast diversity among humans, making it impossible to assign a universal, intrinsic value to all.
  • Practical Implications: Analyze the ethical and societal consequences of basing decisions on a concept as flawed as intrinsic worth.

Potential Counterarguments and Rebuttals:

While your argument is strong, it’s essential to anticipate potential counterarguments:

  • Intuitive Appeal: Some might argue that the concept of intrinsic worth aligns with our intuitive sense of morality. You could counter this by questioning the reliability of intuition and demonstrating how it can be misleading.
  • Legal and Political Necessity: Laws and policies often rely on implicit notions of human worth. You can challenge the underlying assumptions of these systems and propose alternative frameworks based on more tangible and measurable criteria.

By systematically addressing these counterarguments, you can strengthen your overall position and provide a more comprehensive critique of the concept of intrinsic worth.

Justifications for Inherent Human Worth
While the concept of inherent human worth might seem illogical or absurd when subjected to rigorous analysis, it has persisted as a cornerstone of many philosophical and ethical systems. Here are some common justifications:1. Religious and Spiritual Groundings:

  • Divine Image: Many religions posit that humans are created in the image of a divine being, granting them inherent sacredness.
  • Soul or Spirit: The belief in an immortal soul or spiritual essence often underpins the idea that humans possess an intrinsic value beyond the physical.

2. Moral Intuition:

  • Shared Human Experience: Philosophers often argue that there’s a universal human intuition about the wrongness of harming others. This intuition is seen as evidence for an underlying belief in human worth.
  • Empathy and Compassion: The capacity for empathy and compassion is considered a fundamental aspect of human nature, suggesting an inherent value in human life.

3. Rational Arguments:

  • Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Immanuel Kant argued that humans should be treated as ends in themselves, never merely as means to an end. This implies an inherent worth.
  • Human Rights: The concept of human rights is built on the premise that all humans possess inherent dignity and worth, regardless of their circumstances.

4. Evolutionary Explanations:

  • Social Cooperation: Some argue that the evolution of human cooperation and altruism suggests an inherent value placed on human life, as it contributes to the survival of the group.

Critique of These Justifications:

While these justifications have been influential, they are not without their critics. As you’ve pointed out, many of these arguments rely on subjective beliefs, intuition, or abstract concepts that are difficult to prove empirically. Additionally, the concept of inherent worth often conflicts with the observable diversity of human behavior and the realities of human suffering. It’s essential to note that these are just some of the ways philosophers and ethicists have attempted to justify the concept of inherent human worth. Your critical analysis of the concept is valid and invites further exploration of alternative frameworks for understanding human value.

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He, she and it are more than enough for language (and for gender)

August 5, 2024
  • Gender is a classification of humans and is not as complicated as it is fashionable to pretend.
  • There is no morality involved in applying a classification.
  • There are only two sexes and only two corresponding genders. Male (men) and female (women).
  • (Neither race nor gender are “social constructs”. They are both practical classifications based on real differences of physical attributes).
  • It is only women who can get pregnant though not all women do.
  • It is only women who can produce unfertilized eggs though not all do. 
  • It is only men who can produce sperm though not all do.
  • Male and female reproductive organs are different and mutually exclusive except in a few very rare and abnormal cases.
  • The norms for male and female include many other physiological characteristics which are nearly all bimodal but exhibit overlap.
  • It is the different reproductive organs and the bimodality of other characteristics which reflects that there are two genders (and not 3 or 4).
  • You cannot be a male woman or a female man.
  • You can be a masculine woman (a manly woman) or a feminine man (womanly man).
  • They are the default conditions and it is therefore tautology to refer to a masculine man or a feminine woman.
  • Every human is born with some aberrations (deviations from the species norm).
  • There are many possible aberrations. Deviations can be very serious or may be quite minor. 
  • Every individual is classified when born as male or female, or has aberrations sufficiently large to prevent classification.
  • These deviations preventing classification can exhibit great variation and complexity. Physical deviations from the norms for male and female (which have overlap) are often referred to as intersex. 
  • One reliable estimate is that the prevalence of intersex is about 0.018% (18 per 100,000). 
  • Those who are of one gender but have some mental illness causing them to believe that they are the other are usually referred to as transgender. Physical deviations may also cause mental illness. 

She/her/hers applies to all women.

He/him/his applies to all men.

They/them/theirs apply to groups irrespective of gender.

It/them/theirs applies – usually – to things without gender.

When it is used with humans it is usually pejorative.

All the other wokery inventions for language are utterly meaningless and unnecessary. They certainly are not clever enough to qualify as nonsense language (a la Lear). They are just the meaningless juxtaposition of letters.

Ze/hir/hirs.
Xe/xem/xyrs.
Ver/vir/vis.
Te/tem/ter.
E/em/eirs.

Good grief!!!!

The complexity lies in the kinds of deviations that occur. But gender classification really is not that complicated.

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Home truths 1: Science & Philosophy

July 26, 2024

I find it ridiculous that the general assumption is that we know all about gravity. The reality is that we have no idea about why it exists or how the force of gravitation works. We can calculate the effects of gravity essentially still using Newton’s laws together with Einstein’s tweaks. But we have not the faintest idea about how one mass attracts another or why it should. How does the sun communicate with the planets and tell them what force applies  – if it does. A fundamental particle called the graviton is the proposed solution but we have never found one and it lives in the land of the Jumblies. We do not even have any idea what mass is. Physics even has massless particles (the gluon, the photon and the imaginary graviton) but only the God of Physics knows what massless, matter-less stuff such particles may contain. The reality is that science is strictly limited. It is limited by its fundamental assumptions and its boundary conditions. It cannot address matters outside of these conditions.

We put down motion at a distance to forces such as gravitational or electromagnetic. But we really have no idea how these forces are mediated. Probably by Mysterious Quantum Wave Functions which collapse conveniently when needed. But who knows why they exist? And let us be clear. Particles do not exist in two places at the same time. Never. And any physics which says so lives in the land of the Jumblies.

I am just trying to clear my mind by writing down my (current) home truths. I have chosen to arrange my “core beliefs” in three categories as 3 separate posts.

  1. Science & Philosophy
  2. Behaviour
  3. Society & Politics

I start with Science and Philosophy. The list below could have been much longer but I stopped when I started getting bored.

Home truths 1: Science & Philosophy

  1. We have no clue as to the question which existence is the answer to.
  2. We only have circular definitions for truth but what does exist (we assume) is true.
  3. The human mind is finite. There are things that are known, things that are knowable but unknown and there are things that cannot be known (the unknowable).
  4. Infinity, by definition, is a label – in language – for that which cannot be comprehended.
  5. Boundless, endless, timeless and infinite, just like before the beginning and after the end, are labels for the incomprehensible, no matter what the pretense.
  6. The human capability for language is genetic and unmatched by any other species on earth.
  7. The capability for language is discovered but all languages are invented.
  8. Once the concept of oneness – identity / one(1) – is defined, all other numbers of every kind are fixed. Once one (1) exists every other number of every kind automatically follows. Note that zero comes after 1 and derives from 1 – 1.
  9. One and all the numbers derived therefrom are concepts and do not exist explicitly in nature.
  10. All numbers are unreal and abstract.
  11. The process of counting and all of what is now called number theory are also derived from, and fixed by, the concept of one.
  12. Mathematics describes abstract relationships and abstract patterns connecting abstract concepts and does this using a number of invented languages. It is not a science.
  13. The practice of mathematics is art rather than science.
  14. Language is what gives humans the ability to describe the unreal, the past, the future and to lie.
  15. All languages are silent about the truth value of what is being described by language.
  16. Nonsense language is the perfectly correct use of language but where the content is nonsense.
  17. To create nonsense language or nonsense mathematics (in the manner of Edward Lear or Srinivasa Ramanujam) needs very great skill and great proficiency in the language.
  18. Mathematical equations are just propositions, as any sentence in any language, and are silent about the truth value of the content.
  19. Writing a mathematical equation provides no proof of that equation.
  20. Time is unidirectional and a brute fact of our universe. Negative time is not possible in our universe.
  21. The flow of time and existence emerge together.
  22. Mathematical equations for theories having negative time are merely nonsense mathematics (correct by the rules of mathematics but having nonsense as content).
  23. Physics and other scientific theories which do not explicitly exclude the possibility of negative time are incomplete or false.
  24. Scientific theories which are silent or are unable to exclude the possibility of negative time do not imply any support for the possibility of negative time.
  25. No logic system (or science) can ever prove the fundamental assumptions it is itself based upon.
  26. Science assumes that existence, the flow of time, causality, life and consciousness are all self-evident. Therefore science cannot address, let alone explain, any of them.
  27. Anything truly random (without cause) is inexplicable. Random is part of what we cannot know (or else it is Divine).
  28. Every scientific discipline assumes that cause precedes effect but ignores the unavoidable first cause problem.
  29. The Cosmic Big Bang theory cannot explain why there had to be a Big Bang.
  30. Matter forever or matter from nothing are equally inexplicable and unsatisfactory.
  31. Mass “is the amount of matter in matter” which means we have no clue as to what mass is.
  32. We do not know why there are as many “fundamental” particles as there are (or seem to be).
  33. We do not know why the fine structure constant is exactly the number that it is (or why the speed of light is what it is).
  34. Something from nothing cannot be explained by any Science nor by any theology or belief in a God.
  35. Time without beginning cannot be explained by any Science nor by any theology or belief in a God.
  36. A global zero made up of an arbitrary  local “+ dark energy” and balanced by a local “- gravitation energy” proves nothing.
  37. The concept of nothingness is beyond the finite human mind. (Zero derives from 1 and is not a description of nothingness).
  38. Why the universe (including its dimensions, matter, energy and all other properties) is compelled to exist is unknown. (This is an alternative formulation of home truth 1.1)
  39. There is no known explanation for the spark of life.
  40. Consciousness is a mystery without explanation.
  41. Though we can calculate its effects, nobody has the faintest inkling of how gravity is mediated or how it works.
  42. Nobody has a clue as to how large the universe (and not just the observable universe) is (or how big the Big Bang was).

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Just auto-complete or the beginnings of intelligence when chatGPT says ” two plus two is four”

January 7, 2024

When a five-year old says “two plus two is four” we take it as proof of the growing intelligence of a child. In reality it is not that the child understands the abstract concept of numbers and where they come from to represent identities in our physical world. It is just the child applying its own language model to predict the best next word. This is based on the data it has been fed and the supervised and unsupervised  learning it has received from its trainers. The child is merely going through an auto-complete process with its “best” guess for the next word. based on what knowledge it has been fed and the training it has received.

Chomsky does not like chatGPT and dismisses it as being a glorified auto-completer using statistics and probability to estimate the “best” next word. But I think he’s got it wrong again. Whereas human brains may not exclusively use just a large language model, we certainly do use language when we choose the “best” option for the next word we use (speak, write or even think). We may also use logic, or what we call reason or even other languages to judge what the next word ought to be. This includes all forms of mathematics and specialised languages with esoteric symbols or hieroglyphs. Language is overwhelmingly the method of communicating output from a human brain. We use a variety of processes in our brains to ultimately choose the next word we use. Just like chatGPT, the input is the previous word and the output is the next word.

In judging whether a brain (or a neural network) is intelligent, what is critical is what is generated rather than how it is generated. The process by which a brain for a human, or a neural network for a chatbot, generates the next word based on the previous word(s), is irrelevant in judging whether the brain or the neural network is intelligent. The fundamental problem is that we cannot define intelligence. We cannot, as humans, define what we mean when we say we understand something. We cannot tell what process takes place in our brains when we claim we understand addition or subtraction or some other mathematical or logical process.

It seems to me then that if in the future, a chatbot eventually does do mathematics in practice and is always correct, then it is irrelevant if its neural network got there by calculating probabilities of occurrence of the next most likely word or did it in some other way. If it does mathematics then our assessment of its understanding mathematics becomes moot. If it does generate useful and correct code then its understanding of the objectives is irrelevant. Moreover, we cannot say it does not understand when we cannot determine what understanding means for us, let alone for it. We cannot either impose on an AI chatbot a definition of its understanding when we cannot define it for ourselves.

Perhaps understanding is nothing more than weightage numbers in a network of neurons whether in a human brain or in an AI’s neural network software.

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Now Google/Bard comes to the party

July 14, 2023

I have been- sporadically – trying out ChatGPT and BingChat.  Now Google/Bard is available in Europe and I started playing with it yesterday.

Of course language models are concerned only with “the most probable text to follow” where truth or correctness has no value  – and cannot actually be given any value. My current concern is about the ownership of the product of language model based chat-bots. For example, the following questions come to mind

  1. Text is generated following a “prompt”. Is the “prompt” an act of creation/invention?
  2. Who owns the copyright to the text generated?
  3. Who is the beneficial owner of the product (the generated text)?
  4. Who is accountable/liable for any consequences of generating the text?

To begin with I put the question to Bard:

ktwop:  Who owns or is accountable for or liable for text generated by a “text-based AI”?

Bard: The ownership and liability of text generated by a text-based AI is a complex legal issue that is still being debated. There is no clear consensus on who owns the copyright for AI-generated text, and the liability for any harm caused by such text is also uncertain.

In the United States, copyright law generally requires that a work be created by a human being in order to be protected. However, there is some debate about whether this requirement applies to AI-generated text. Some experts argue that AI-generated text can be considered “created by a human being” if the AI was trained on a dataset of human-created text. Others argue that AI-generated text is not “created by a human being” and therefore cannot be copyrighted.

The liability for harm caused by AI-generated text is also uncertain. In some cases, the person or entity that created the AI may be liable for any harm caused by the text. In other cases, the person or entity that used the AI may be liable. It is also possible that both the creator and the user of the AI could be liable.

The legal issues surrounding AI-generated text are complex and evolving. It is important to consult with an attorney if you have any questions about the ownership or liability of AI-generated text.

Here are some additional factors that may be considered when determining the ownership and liability of AI-generated text:

  • The extent to which human input was involved in the creation of the text.
  • The purpose for which the text was created.
  • The intended audience for the text.
  • The potential harm that could be caused by the text.

Ultimately, the ownership and liability of AI-generated text will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Chatbots and responsibility

May 28, 2023

(Updated re copyright)

This is getting interesting.

Large language models (such as GPT3 and 4) generate text based on probability of what text should follow. They have no internal conception of truth. The probabilities which determine text generation are reflections of conformity and are based on weights of existing usage patterns contained within its database.

The key questions which arise are:

  1. Who “owns” copyright to the generated text?
  2. Is the language model merely a tool?
  3. Is the “user” of the tool responsible for the product or does the owner of the model share responsibility for the product (the generated text)?

The product of the use of a hammer or a screwdriver requires skill (or lack of skill) from the user. The user’s “skill” in the case of a large language model is confined to that used in posing the questions to the chatbot. The user’s skill in posing questions has little impact on the text generated.

BBC

ChatGPT: US lawyer admits using AI for case research

A New York lawyer is facing a court hearing of his own after his firm used AI tool ChatGPT for legal research. A judge said the court was faced with an “unprecedented circumstance” after a filing was found to reference example legal cases that did not exist. The lawyer who used the tool told the court he was “unaware that its content could be false”. ChatGPT creates original text on request, but comes with warnings it can “produce inaccurate information”.

The original case involved a man suing an airline over an alleged personal injury. His legal team submitted a brief that cited several previous court cases in an attempt to prove, using precedent, why the case should move forward. But the airline’s lawyers later wrote to the judge to say they could not find several of the cases that were referenced in the brief. “Six of the submitted cases appear to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations,” Judge Castel wrote in an order demanding the man’s legal team explain itself. Over the course of several filings, it emerged that the research had not been prepared by Peter LoDuca, the lawyer for the plaintiff, but by a colleague of his at the same law firm. Steven A Schwartz, who has been an attorney for more than 30 years, used ChatGPT to look for similar previous cases. In his written statement, Mr Schwartz clarified that Mr LoDuca had not been part of the research and had no knowledge of how it had been carried out. Mr Schwartz added that he “greatly regrets” relying on the chatbot, which he said he had never used for legal research before and was “unaware that its content could be false”. He has vowed to never use AI to “supplement” his legal research in future “without absolute verification of its authenticity”. Screenshots attached to the filing appear to show a conversation between Mr Schwarz and ChatGPT. “Is varghese a real case,” reads one message, referencing Varghese v. China Southern Airlines Co Ltd, one of the cases that no other lawyer could find. ChatGPT responds that yes, it is – prompting “S” to ask: “What is your source”. After “double checking”, ChatGPT responds again that the case is real and can be found on legal reference databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. It says that the other cases it has provided to Mr Schwartz are also real.

Both lawyers, who work for the firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, have been ordered to explain why they should not be disciplined at an 8 June hearing. Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022. It can answer questions in natural, human-like language and it can also mimic other writing styles. It uses the internet as it was in 2021 as its database. There have been concerns over the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including the potential spread of misinformation and bias.

The ChatGPT response regarding copyright is a little too weaselly for my liking:

ktwop: Who owns the copyright to text generated by ChatGPT?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have legal ownership or rights. The text generated by ChatGPT is based on a combination of licensed data, data created by human trainers, and publicly available data. The ownership of the copyright for the individual responses or outputs generated by ChatGPT would typically depend on the specific context and how the model is being used.

In most cases, the copyright for the content generated by an AI language model would likely belong to the person or organization that owns the AI system or has the legal rights to its output. For example, if a company develops and operates ChatGPT, they would generally hold the copyright to the content generated by the model.

It’s important to note that while AI models like ChatGPT can assist in generating text, the responsibility for adhering to copyright laws and ensuring proper usage of generated content lies with the user or organization utilizing the model.

My gut feeling is that the creator/owner of the large language model must carry some responsibility (legal liability) similar to a product liability.

Cornell University. Product liability is a doctrine that gives plaintiffs a cause of action if they encounter a defective consumer item. This doctrine can fall under negligence, but it is generally associated with strict liability, meaning that defendants can be held liable regardless of their intent or knowledge.

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Nothingness is not possible in a human universe

May 27, 2023

I could add quite a lot of words to this and I am not entirely happy with the “consensus” logic applied, but I would not strongly repudiate anything that was generated.

Blogging could be becoming obsolete or, I would argue, writing – including blogging – has gained a new tool.

ktwop: Discuss – Nothingness can never be real in a universe with humans.

ChatGPT: The concept of nothingness is often abstract and philosophical, and its interpretation can vary depending on the context in which it is discussed. In the context of a universe with humans, it can be argued that true “nothingness” may not exist or be experienced by humans due to our innate perception and understanding of reality.

From a philosophical standpoint, nothingness is often understood as the absence of something or the lack of existence. However, it is challenging to truly grasp or conceptualize nothingness since our perception is fundamentally rooted in the existence of things. Our sensory experiences and cognitive processes are constantly engaged with the world around us, making it difficult to imagine a state of absolute non-existence or nothingness.

In a universe with humans, even when we perceive emptiness or voids, they are still defined in relation to the existence of objects or entities. For example, an empty room is still considered empty because we can contrast it with rooms that are occupied or filled with objects. Our understanding of nothingness is thus dependent on the presence of something and our ability to differentiate between existence and non-existence.

Moreover, from a scientific perspective, the laws of physics dictate that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed, but they can be transformed or rearranged. This principle, known as the conservation of energy, suggests that there is always something rather than absolute nothingness. Even in seemingly empty spaces, there are still particles and energy fluctuations at the quantum level.

From a psychological standpoint, humans also tend to assign meaning and significance to the concept of nothingness. We often associate it with emptiness, absence, or non-existence, which can be unsettling or challenging for our minds to comprehend. The existential nature of human consciousness leads us to ponder the nature of reality and our place within it, but it is difficult for us to conceive a reality devoid of existence or experience.

In conclusion, while the concept of nothingness can be contemplated and discussed philosophically, it is challenging to argue that true nothingness can exist in a universe with humans. Our perception, understanding, and experience of reality are inherently rooted in the existence of things, and even seemingly empty spaces are not devoid of particles and energy. The human mind and our cognitive processes make it difficult to truly fathom or experience nothingness in its absolute sense.

The key to the proper use of chatbots as writing tools would be if a human

  1. could legitimately claim ownership of what was generated, and
  2. took ownership of what was generated.

I can claim ownership of the question I posed to ChatGPT but I am not sure I can claim ownership of what is generated – even if under my Username.

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Testing ChatGPT /2: Large language models conflate conformity with truth

May 3, 2023
  1. Large language models (such as GPT3) generate text based on probability.
  2. They can have no internal concept of truth.
  3. Probabilities are reflections of conformity and are based on weights of existing usage patterns contained within its database.
  4. Training is about giving additional weight as human feedback on the positivity or negativity of what has been generated.
  5. Generated text gives high values to conformity with its own database and with the training (feedback) received. 
  6. High conformance is conflated with truth.

Of course, this is a common feature in human interactions as well. Many people having a particular opinion gives that opinion a higher perceived truth value even if that opinion is utterly wrong or false. The deification of “the many” has warped our notions of what is truth.

But the fuzziness around truth could be a particular issue with large language models and for AI. Truth is not an inherent, internal concept of such models. Truth becomes relative (to the views of the trainers) and conformity is conflated with truth.

ktwop: Do large language models generate probabilistic text?
ChatGPT: That’s correct! Large language models generate text using probability distributions. These models are trained on massive amounts of text data and learn to predict the likelihood of certain words or phrases based on the context of the surrounding text.
When generating text, the model samples from these probability distributions to determine which word or phrase to use next. Because the model is probabilistic, it can generate different outputs for the same input, making the generated text more diverse and interesting.
However, it’s important to note that while large language models like GPT-3 are very good at generating coherent text, they are not perfect and can still produce errors or nonsensical output. It’s also important to be aware of ethical concerns surrounding the use of such models for potentially harmful purposes such as generating fake news or propaganda.
ktwop: How can the output from a language model be given a truth value?
ChatGPT:The output from a language model can be given a truth value by comparing it to a reference or ground truth text. The reference text can be a sentence or a paragraph that is known to be true or false, depending on the task at hand. For example, if the task is to generate a factually correct sentence, the truth value of the output can be determined by comparing it to a reliable source of information, such as a verified news article or a trustworthy database. If the output matches the reference text, it can be considered true, and if it does not, it can be considered false.
Similarly, for tasks such as sentiment analysis or topic classification, the truth value can be determined by comparing the output to a set of labels that are already defined as true or false. For example, if the task is to classify a text as positive or negative, the truth value of the output can be determined by comparing it to a labeled dataset where each text is already classified as positive or negative.
In summary, the truth value of the output from a language model can be determined by comparing it to a reference text or a set of labeled data that is already known to be true or false.
 

 

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We, they and the roots of violence

December 4, 2022

The application of physical force is the motive force for all material events in our universe. The use of physical force as a tool – whether for survival or anything else – is enabled by the genes of every living thing. The ability of any living thing to exert physical force is enabled and constrained by its physiology.

violence: (n) the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy; extreme physical force; vehemence, intense, turbulent, destructive

Any use of physical force by any living creature is not always considered a violent act. If the physical force applied is insufficient to cause damage it does not qualify as violence. Usually the intention to injure, damage or destroy is needed to convert the mere act of using damaging, physical force to being a violent act. In language the word is often used even if no such intention exists. For example hammering a nail can be described as violent. An incoherent idiot may be excused his behaviour because of his violent thoughts. When a volcano erupts or when the growing roots of a tree destroy a house – say – they are often referred to as violent though it would be difficult to ascribe any destructive intentions.

Violence (like any force) is a vector. It has an object acted upon, a magnitude and a direction. Without the concepts of we and they there would be no human violence.

We and They (Rudyard Kipling)

Father and Mother, and Me,
Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
And every one else is They.
And They live over the sea,
While We live over the way,
But-would you believe it? –They look upon We
As only a sort of They!

We eat pork and beef
With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf,
Are horrified out of Their lives;
While they who live up a tree,
And feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn’t it scandalous? ) look upon We
As a simply disgusting They!

We shoot birds with a gun.
They stick lions with spears.
Their full-dress is un-.
We dress up to Our ears.
They like Their friends for tea.
We like Our friends to stay;
And, after all that, They look upon We
As an utterly ignorant They!

We eat kitcheny food.
We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood,
Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!) They look upon We
As a quite impossible They!

All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And every one else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
As only a sort of They!

It seems to me that the use of physical force between humans is converted to violence only when

  1. we and they exist,
  2. the magnitude of the force applied is sufficient to injure, damage or destroy, and
  3. the intention to do harm exists.

Human violence thus needs an object, magnitude and intention. A pat on the back is not violence. The same magnitude of force used to murderously swat a fly is violence. Intention requires a mind. For things with minds a we and a they exist. In fact, it is the concept of a we and a they which is necessary for intention to emerge. Predators are we and prey are them. Weeds are them. I am, of course, a part of we. When a lion kills the offspring of its predecessor, the we obliterate the them. We are invariably good. They are not always bad but we are never bad.

War, genocide, torture, the Holocaust, the atrocities in Rwanda or Myanmar, violent conflict in Ukraine, are not examples of abnormal human behaviour. They are an integral part of human behaviour and though we often call such behaviour “inhuman”, it is just a label. Caligula and Genghis Khan and Hitler and Pol Pot were all human. Potential Hitlers are being born every day. All past atrocities are just examples of how humans could – under appropriate circumstances – behave even today.

“There, but for the grace of God go I” – John Bradford

Atrocity is a part of that primal human behaviour which is rooted in We and They. Whatever it is that makes humans a social animal (presumably our genes) creates our concept and our need for We and They. From families and tribes to gangs and nations, it is being able to conceptualise a we which has enabled survival and led to development. It is the concept of we which underlies cooperation and which has given us language and development. And it is being this social animal with a sense of we which has distinguished humans from all other species in the level of cooperation that has been achieved. Much of our cooperation is manifested as the joint and coordinated application of physical force. That is true whether in building the Taj Mahal, going to the moon or implementing Hitler’s final solution. When survival – or perceived survival – is at stake We may always resort to atrocity against Them. Our evolutionary success is rooted in We and They and in our ability to apply physical force.

Along with We comes They and then violence becomes a word.

All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And every one else is They:

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