5HC : Skinner, Turing (fwd)

James Wynn · 15 Feb 2005, 07:54 · from 2005-February.txt.gz

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From: thewynns at earthlink.net (James Wynn)
Date: Tue Feb 15 07:54:24 2005
Subject: (urth) 5HC : Skinner, Turing (fwd)
References: <BAY102-F404492B3E76BDAF9032721866B0 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <00a601c51376$9d186ee0$4c1e4b0a at vcorp.ad.vrsn.com>

>>Or another similar scenario.  I just don't think it is possible for a
>>situation to occur
>>in which anybody can dither forever, because of everyone else doing other
>>things.
>>But maybe a dead-lock breaker was built-in by evolution.  Doesn't seem
very
>>likely tho'

>Have you ever heard of a particular type of monkey trap? I have never heard
>anything but anecdotal evidence as to whether it really works.

Put so fruit in a jar and tie the jar to a stake. The monkey grabs the fruit
but cannot extract his hand while he holds it. He must drop the fruit to
escape but he never does (at least for the ones that are caught). I've seen
it work. I've even seen it work on a young chimpanzee.

It's not exactly dithering between two choices, however, is it? But I get
your point that evolution does not provide a life-preserving automatic
resolution to all choices.

~ Crush

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