What role do metaphors play in helping people understand the concept of artificial intelligence? Do you agree that the brain is a so-called meat machine? What other metaphors might be applicable to the function of the human brain?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Perhaps you need the help of the Physics group for ideas, then the Writing group for polish. Alan Turing had some interesting things to say about machines, intelligence and god.

anonymous · Answer

Might be more of a philosophical question - what is the definition of a machine?  What is consciousness?  How are humans possibly different from a machine?  
My personal opinion is humans as individuals are NOT a machine - meaning everyone makes choices and everyone can make different choices based on their background and belief systems.  However humans collectively could be considered a machine to a larger extent.

anonymous · Answer

Yea, I think this way more fitting for either physics or philosophy. You'd probably get totally different answers from the two, which could be really interesting.