computer or a tree?

[mechanic]

 A philosophical debate started tonight between me and a friend. We were looking at the christmas tree and I suggested it was rather a grotesque momument to ending a 'life' for decoration. She said it was not alive or aware like a human is because it does not have a central nervous system like ours. I then asked her if a computer was more 'alive' than a tree because it has something very similar to an animal central nervous system at it's core. We eat for energy, the computer plugs into the mains power, the tree draws energy through its roots. But the tree has other characteristics such as the ability to diagnose what is wrong IE: a limb being severed and the capacity to repair, or at least plug the wound, without any outside influence. Not many computers can achieve this level of self service.
 We could not agree so the question remains. What is more aware: A tree or a computer?

[SIK1]

I know the tree wont be obsolete in two years.

[LYNX]

The tree is a living thing and has the attributes that you pointed out.  It lives, it grows and it dies.  They computer which is functional is only inanimate.  It needs man for it to function where as the tree does not.

Good ol Albert.  Without him shacking up with Vicky we prolly wouldn't be growing conifers to decay in our houses.  

[Motherland]

That's something I've thought long about before...
It's difficult to make a distinction between a simple life form (or even a more complex one I guess) which is essentially a series of chemical reactions and electrical impulses, an organic computer if you want to look at it that way, and a man-made computer, which is constructed to turn electrical impulses into meaningful information... at what point does the computer become a thinking 'being' which is self aware by its own merits, not simply because it is programmed to act that way? As we all, in a sense, are? This has obviously perplexed many people, looking at the popularity of the 'Robot AI taking over the earth' SciFi scenario.


Also, don't think that the tree is killed, rather that the stump survives and grows a new 'top'... though I may be wrong.

[gyrene81]

According to the latest trends in cloud super computing...the computer is more aware than the tree...unless you're just talking about a single desktop/laptop.

[mechanic]

 I think the tree is more alive and more aware so far in history. Trees can life for thousands of years. It's all down to Einstien for me. Time is relative such as the fly that lives 24 hours but at such a fast rate that it seems like an endless lifetime. The tree on the opposite end of the scale may live on such a slow time scale as to be static to the human mind and thus we consider it inanimate. But if self awareness is chemical and elecrical then who is to say computers are not getting beyond the slowest forms of life on earth? Is the answer to the human/animal self awareness, the soul if you like, the equivelent of a cyborg tree?

Sorry everyone, just was in that kind of mood.

[kamori]

We could not agree so the question remains. What is more aware: A tree or a computer?

Neither are aware

aware [əˈwɛə]
adj
1. (postpositive; foll by of) having knowledge; cognizant aware of his error
2. informed of current developments politically aware
[Old English gewær; related to Old Saxon, Old High German giwar Latin verērī to be fearful; see beware, wary]
awareness  n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 6th Edition 2003. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

A tree and a computer do not apply...


KAM

[Vulcan]

My xmas tree is plastic.

[PFactorDave]

My xmas tree is plastic.

Mine too...  I'm sure it'll be in a landfill somewhere for a few hundred thousand years after I am dead and buried... 

[bcadoo]

It doesn't bother me to have a 'real' Christmas tree. Just like I'm not too concerned about the wheat, pickles, onions, tomatoes, or cow when I eat a hamburger.

[RTR]

A Tree has a real and certain impact on it's immediate environment without a requirement to be told what to do.

A computer has no impact other than what it is manipulated to provide.

So, if a tree falls on a computer in the forest does anybody hear it?

I dunno, this place is too deep for me. I'm just a redheaded stepchild helicopter pilot. Way outta my depth here....any biologists cross dressed as computer geeks here?

RTR

[Masherbrum]

A Tree has a real and certain impact on it's immediate environment without a requirement to be told what to do.

A computer has no impact other than what it is manipulated to provide.

So, if a tree falls on a computer in the forest does anybody hear it?

I dunno, this place is too deep for me. I'm just a redheaded stepchild helicopter pilot. Way outta my depth here....any biologists cross dressed as computer geeks here?

RTR

You big dweeb you!   

[RTR]

Okay, I confess...I'm a bit of a dweeb

But Bat started it with the tree thing!

RTR

[Jayhawk]

Trees can adapt, reproduce, and evolve.  That to me is much more alive.  It may not react to other inputs as fast as a computer but it will react.

[Chalenge]

A long long time ago... before recorded history... the atmosphere had much more CO2 than it does today. In those days trees ruled the planet and they could walk about and talk but because CO2 became scarce the trees became idiots and were paralyzed from lack of energy. However it is also a little known fact that trees are a little like vampires because if they were not paralyzed and could walk about then they could also suck the water right out of your body.

So you better watch it bub and go home and vent some CO2 tonight but not too much!