Hey ladies and gents!
I guess the discussion we had in class regarding the reading should be continued here in the blog. I am not certain exactly where I wish to go with this discussion, save that it is about the emergent properties of a book versus a blog.
In finishing the book (Part Three… I know it’s not required, but it asks pertinent questions) Johnson mentions that although writing about Emergence, there is no actual emergent behavior evident in his book. (I guess there’s “semi-evident” behavior where we “mind read” an implicit conversation into the book with the author, but I wouldn’t bet too much on the implicit.)
Basically, in class it is possible to discuss Emergence and perhaps even evolve emergent behavior to be able to talk about the subject, but a book is a one-way street. This is like saying, “so what” at the end of a thesis statement; yeah we talked a good game, but can any of us really say what emergence really is? Also, by the end of the book, have we actually pinpointed anything?We kind of decided on no. However, with this blog, will we be able to “emerge” and answer, or because it is in an implicit “book-type” format will we be making statements into the ether?
Is a recap of class in order? In pursuing the discussion of Emergence, we stumbled upon the idea of “learning” as being a property of inanimate objects such as cities. This led to a further distinction: the internet versus the computer. Whereas a computer can be programmed to produce emergent behavior, it is an impossibility at present to do so with the internet. We rehashed the folly of believing the internet could produce emergent behavior through learning as it was a repository and not “self-using”. (Similar to the idea of a feral library, the internet can’t spontaneously develop self-changing learning patterns. A library holds the books, and the books do not incite revolution on the part of the library). This idea of the Internet not being like a brain. On Page 118 of Johnson’s book, he quotes Steven Pinker to express how the Internet would fail at being a brain, “The Internet is in some ways like a brain, but in important ways it is not. The brain doesn’t just let information ricochet around the skull… But the Internet, not being a cohesive replicating system, has no such organization” [italics added] (118, Johnson; 2001). In looking over this difference between “learning” through self-change and feedback (as mentioned by Johnson in Emergence) and being a repository of knowledge, could we come to the conclusion that there is a lack of feedback in a blog form?
I think it is inarguable that there is no feedback in book form. As informative as a book may be, there is no dialogue which could lead to learning and changed behavior through feedback. Therefore, I ask whether a blog is closer to a book, or closer to the conversation we have in the classroom. I am under the impression that there is a general consensus that interaction in the classroom is emergent behavior (similar to the sidewalk theory posited by Johnson).
Granted, unlike in class where I can rudely interrupt my fellow classmates (who surprisingly don’t tell me to shut up, they’re so nice ^_^), I can monologue on for HOURS in this post. (Really, don’t test me, because I am totally willing to blog until I fall asleep at the keyboard.) If this is possible, does it negate the whole feeling that we’re communicating through posting and then “comment” as a reply (exhibiting “feedback” behavior which seemed to be important to the “learning” of emergence)? Will the blog exhibit emergent behavior through the changing conversations, or is it a bunch of monologues formed into some semblance of an agreeable argument similar to that of a book?
Will I ever stop posting questions? (Will I ever get around to ANSWERING my own questions?) Also, I think I might have stopped making sense a few paragraphs back, as I am a little wonky from lack of sleep.
Asking questions is never a bad thing, especially with a book like this. I think it is really hard to “define” emergence. Our book is some what of a one way street, but our discussions in class are the other side(not sure if that makes sense but i’m going with it.). I think reading books like this only reach thier full potenial when they are discussed.
Personally I love questions because they make me think and often create new ideas. I think what would be interested would be to have some sort book that allows for dialogue with the author like a blog book. This book can create ideas and discussion and is most effective when discussed. I find in class the discussion are most fascinating because my understanding can be furthered by others.
The discussion about the internet failing to be a brain allows me to wonder if the internet in conjunction with artificial intelligence could be transformed into a brain.