Knowledge Beings

Luc Claeys (claeys@INNET.BE)
Thu, 25 May 1995 15:46:04 +0200


Answer from Luc Claeys to the question of Hans-Cees Speel :

> I do not see how you can say that the knowledge beings can be
> conscious...

One of the reasons why I consider "knowledge" as a "being"
originates from my attempts to represent knowledge in
advanced information processing systems.

Representation of knowledge in an advanced system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An advanced knowledge based system should learn from its actions.
For example: each time an attempt is made to apply a specific
element of knowledge, the results from this attempt should be
correlated later with the conditions in which the attempt was
made.
To accomplish this, each element of knowledge must have some
memory and processing resources (and the ability to decide to
use its processing resources `after' being used).
I will call this combination of knowledge, processing and memory
resources a "knowledge object".

The allocation of resources (memory, processing power, etc,.)
must be regulated in a distributed way by appreciation exchanged
between knowledge elements and between the system and the
external world.

The goal is to refine and complement the knowledge objects by
learning from the attempts to apply the knowledge.
To accomplish this, the knowledge object must at least be
informed of the attempts to apply the knowledge, or better,
in stead of applying the knowledge as a data pattern,
the object can be requested to apply itself on a given
spot in a context.
Because the knowledge element has some processing resources,
it has the power to follow-up its own actions and the
consequences of its actions (appreciation by other subsystems).
To learn from that, it can correlate the consequences with the
memorized conditions in which the knowledge was applied.

Knowledge represented in such way acts as an entity, which goal
is to apply itself in a way which is appreciated positively by
the environment.
To evolve towards that goal, the knowledge element develops an
image of the world in which it can express (apply) itself, an
image of itself in that world, together with experience to
anticipate the success or failure of its actions.

That is how I see knowledge in our mind as well.
That image is one of the reasons why I consider a knowledge
object as a conscious being.

I hope this sheds new light on knowledge and AI systems.

Luc

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Luc Claeys claeys@innet.be
Antwerpen (Wilrijk) Belgium.

In search of new points of view
for better understanding of Nature.
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