re: Neural Nets
Socrates,
By the end of the 80s strong AI fell into disrepute for a number of reasons. However progress was quietly made on many fronts. Nickel and dime Turing test stuff is passe now. Digital computers are great tools, but not the future of AI.
It is very possible that work being done in real-time, parallel, neural networks in silicon might at last produce tools for embodying qualia. Such networks could subserve models not only of experiences in primary visual, auditory, and somesthetic modes but also subserve models of ego. Such a machine might also, verily, believe that it could do what it wished.
Have you ever tried this out? It's a fun way to organize a web page.