The Human Element
Wednesday, 3. October 2007, 03:15:49
I had a conversation today with a good friend of mine, Dave Elrod, about an algorithm he believes he can implement that will ultimately result in a more efficient chess program and while he was speaking to me, I couldn't help but drift into my own realm of thought on the subject. You see, in my opinion, the entire exercise of creating more effective chess programs is less important that one might think. These programs that perform billions of calculations essentially exist to win at chess. That is to say, they don't play chess at all. It is that distinction that, I believe, helps us understand why we are human and why that is such a beautiful thing.
When I play chess, there is in fact, a strong desire to win. This is uncontested. There is, however, additionally a desire to be creative and to become engaged in my opponent. When you play chess against a computer, the focus of the game is no longer to play chess but to win at chess. Better said, I would never attempt a dangerous maneuver against a machine while I may entice my opponent to perform a bad trade or read his expressions for information about his idea on the state of the board. This entire process is lost when playing a computer.
So what am I getting at here? I suppose my thesis is, while I respect and acknowledge the academic and progressive desire to perfect the algorithm associated with mastering chess, I believe the true beauty of the game does not rise out the desire to obtain victory. Instead, what is so interesting and beautiful about the game is how a simple set rules and a simple arrangement of pieces combine to form such an artistic expression of human intellect. What is interesting to me is how chess pulls the player in and encourages him/her to express their endeavor via a relatively simple set of operations.
When I play chess, I don't really care when I lose. Instead, I take joy in trying to form a complicated pin or trying to fool my opponent into a trap. These imperfect decisions and imprecise choices resonate deeply with the human intellectual paradigm. Better said, humans are so amazing not in addition to our flaws, but BECAUSE of our flaws. It is our failures that define our ability to appreciate life. In all sets of processes that contain perfect algorithmic solutions, the spectrum of past, present and future are all deterministic. It is our incorrectness that makes us, in fact, perfectly correct in our capacity to observe the past and present but never the future.
And so, my friend, do not fret over your mistakes. Do not submit yourself to the burden of perpetual guilt or regret. Instead, relish in your failures and expose your imperfections. It is because of them that you see the world as you do today, in color and with life, without the devastating knowledge of a deterministic future.
When I play chess, there is in fact, a strong desire to win. This is uncontested. There is, however, additionally a desire to be creative and to become engaged in my opponent. When you play chess against a computer, the focus of the game is no longer to play chess but to win at chess. Better said, I would never attempt a dangerous maneuver against a machine while I may entice my opponent to perform a bad trade or read his expressions for information about his idea on the state of the board. This entire process is lost when playing a computer.
So what am I getting at here? I suppose my thesis is, while I respect and acknowledge the academic and progressive desire to perfect the algorithm associated with mastering chess, I believe the true beauty of the game does not rise out the desire to obtain victory. Instead, what is so interesting and beautiful about the game is how a simple set rules and a simple arrangement of pieces combine to form such an artistic expression of human intellect. What is interesting to me is how chess pulls the player in and encourages him/her to express their endeavor via a relatively simple set of operations.
When I play chess, I don't really care when I lose. Instead, I take joy in trying to form a complicated pin or trying to fool my opponent into a trap. These imperfect decisions and imprecise choices resonate deeply with the human intellectual paradigm. Better said, humans are so amazing not in addition to our flaws, but BECAUSE of our flaws. It is our failures that define our ability to appreciate life. In all sets of processes that contain perfect algorithmic solutions, the spectrum of past, present and future are all deterministic. It is our incorrectness that makes us, in fact, perfectly correct in our capacity to observe the past and present but never the future.
And so, my friend, do not fret over your mistakes. Do not submit yourself to the burden of perpetual guilt or regret. Instead, relish in your failures and expose your imperfections. It is because of them that you see the world as you do today, in color and with life, without the devastating knowledge of a deterministic future.
WIDGETIZE
Qaldim # 3. October 2007, 07:17
Kevin Seiter # 3. October 2007, 11:55
Nita Autumnbright # 3. October 2007, 20:43
scrypton # 8. October 2007, 23:08
Anonymous # 7. November 2007, 21:30
You are so insightful sometimes Kev. Very well said.
Kevin Seiter # 7. November 2007, 22:29