The Turing Test
Philosopher Hilary Putnam discusses the Turing test and explains why he doesn't think it's a valid method by which to establish that a machine can be considered conscious and capable of thinking.
The Turing Test
Philosopher John Searle talks about the Turing test, based on a paper written by Alan Turing in 1950, in which a test was devised to measure whether a computer could simulate the working of a human brain.
The Water Planet: Big Bang, The
The "Big Bang" is the commonly accepted theory of the origin of the universe. Most scientists believe this cataclysmic explosion took place about fourteen billion years ago. It is widely thought that the universe has bee..
The Water Planet: Early Earth
At one time, Earth was a very different planet than it is today. Its atmosphere, in particular, bore very little resemblance to the one that we depend on for the air we breathe. It probably consisted primarily of carbon ..
The Water Planet: Earth Without Water, An
From its likely role in the formation of life, to its impact on global climate, the world ocean has shaped planet Earth to an extent that is almost impossible to overstate. Perhaps the best way to fully grasp the enormit..
The Water Planet: Origin of Life on Earth
There is no definitive evidence that proves beyond a doubt where water originated. But wherever it came from, water did eventually cover more than two-thirds of Earth's surface. The implications of this for the formation..
The Water Planet: Origin of the Solar System
Several billion years following the "Big Bang," a cloud of dust and gas began to condense and rotate, taking on a spherical shape. Eventually, the dust grains within this rotating cloud would coalesce and become the sun ..
The Water Planet: Water: Earth's Distinguishing Characteristic
The third planet out from the sun, Earth is unique in many ways. But perhaps the most significant is that seventy percent of Earth's surface is covered with water.
Theodore Roosevelt and Americanization
Professor of history Gary Gerstle says that Theodore Roosevelt was much more open to immigrants from southern and eastern Europe than were many of his contemporaries, including close friend Henry Cabot Lodge. Nonetheless..
Theodore Roosevelt and Asian Immigration
Professor of history Gary Gerstle explains that Theodore Roosevelt was a great admirer of the Japanese and welcomed Japanese immigrants, despite popular sentiment in the United States against the perceived "invasion by y..