From: David@longley.demon.co.uk (David Longley)
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 96 12:03:40 GMT
Organization: Relational Technology

In article <56ld5v$6pe@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu>
           andersw+@pitt.edu "Anders N Weinstein" writes:


> 
> Atoms do not compute anything, since they don't have representations. 
> Their behavior might (or might not) be described by deterministic laws, but
> again that is irrelevant, or else you could just explain human behavior
> at the physical level and claim to have a cognitive theory. 

That's  interesting - computation is an *inherently*  "cognitive" 
process is it?

> What animates them is rational dynamics, not physical dynamics, conformity
> to the normative laws of thought.
> 

Same  way as elan vital animates living creatures I guess?  Don't 
you see how atavistic this all is? 

It's just latter day vitalism. 
-- 
David Longley