[Fis] THE FRONTIERS OF INTELLIGENCE SCIENCE--Zhao Chuan

[Pedro C. Marijuan]

(Message from *Zhao Chuan*, excerpts from the Preface of her book on 
Intelligence Science)

 

*
THE FRONTIERS OF INTELLIGENCE SCIENCE*

* *
Intelligence Science is a new science. It is the scientific spirit 
applied to thought and mental processes and phenomena; it is an emergent 
multidisciplinary direction of research. At the same time, it represents 
a long-standing tradition in oriental thought. After the success of 
science in grasping the rules of the natural world, and despite many 
false starts, science has finally begun to focus on intelligence. Hence 
East and West should meet here, Science and Art should meet here, and it 
is from here that the new scientific paradigm and a new paradigm for 
civilization should evolve.

In ancient times, human beings faced the challenges of existence. After 
a long period of evolution, it is the time to go from a survival mode - 
how to live better - and now face what A. Feln said: to think better is 
the challenge to our integrity. "Know yourself" was the inscription in 
the temple of Apollo. It can and should be taken to heart now more than 
in any other age. Intelligence Science has been born at the right moment.

Despite all their problems, all sciences are becoming richer and more 
successful, above all technological disciplines. The Internet is the 
'roof' over the Global Village in which this has taken place. Workers in 
the sciences and the humanities are already exchanging information about 
their work and also their feelings about their work. Intelligence 
Science emerges naturally.

We need to continuously try to face and answer honestly the question: 
how can the human factor be recognized and integrated naturally into 
science? Science needs rethinking, humanity needs rethinking, the West 
and the East need rethinking, so that we can benefit from the richness 
of human nature and  bear the complexity of human thought. Integration 
is not easy, but we must do it. If all civilizations develop, reach 
their limits and then fade, contending among themselves, finally they 
must fail and destroy each other. Alternatively, the Eastern and Western 
civilizations of today could interact more dynamically observing, 
understanding and checking each other to form a 'new' civilization that 
could go farther. Which alternative will we choose? Intelligence Science 
burdens itself with this mission.

>From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Intelligence Science (IS) is a 
strategic transformation, a major contribution to science. Led by the 
Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence ( CAAI), Intelligence 
Science was born in October, 2003. Since the first one created in Peking 
University, in just the last decade, 27 universities have set up a 
Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, and the number should 
increase. We can say that IS has now created a new frontier of 
knowledge, going from theory to practice and to education. But our task, 
the task of this book, is to describe and participate in the research 
and development of this still-forming frontier. Poincaré said: "if we 
can occasionally enjoy relative tranquility, it is because of the 
tenacious struggle of our ancestors. If our vigor, our vigilance relax a 
moment, we will lose the fruits that our ancestors gained for us.

There is a poem of Master Hong Yi that can describe this new science: "I 
come for the plant/ I leave the flower that has not bloomed yet,/it does 
not mean this is not a fine scene,/waiting for later generations." Due 
to the interactive changes involving East and West I mentioned above, 
our civilization has achieved a high degree of maturity in what is now a 
precious wealthy and peaceful age. First we should be thankful for the 
great fruits and wisdom which human beings have gained through tenacious 
struggle that we have arrived at such a moment and can formulate such 
thoughts. Generation by generation, the development of science and 
civilization reaches out and transmits them to us. Such a great flower 
is just blooming now, and is in its most beautiful period. The end of 
the 20th Century is safe, the steps of the 21st Century are smooth and 
steady, and the great harmony and the great adventure of human beings 
should begin.

"We must know, we will know!" (Wir müssen wissen / Wir werden wissen) 
these lines are engraved in the gravestone of the mathematical King 
David, David Hilbert. We need to have the same confidence and will. We 
should remember the same warning of Lu Xun: "but if you want to have 
some rank in culture, you have to be tenacious." At the same time there 
is the wisdom of the farmer's proverbs: "In seeding the transplants in 
the paddy field, older and younger are both needed" and "when everybody 
adds fuel, the flames rise high.". All persons who are concerned about 
civilization should optimistically make the effort together to 
integrate, to break through, to reach an age of a new quality. Such is 
my invitation to you: let us  reappraise all of the positive results of 
our civilization. Let us take this massive 'seed', and make it sprout 
and grow to achieve a higher level of civilization. To open the prelude, 
to face dawn, and with this new Intelligence Science create a golden age!

In conclusion, I should explain here that my personal capacities are 
limited; I am pressed for time and ask for the comprehension of my 
readers. I am not trying to be self-deprecatory; this is just a brief 
expression of my inner apprehensions and the heavy tension I am under as 
well as of the the excitement I feel at the same time.

Zhao Chuan
November, 2014


PS. The above is taken, with slight modifications, from my Preface to 
the book on Intelligence Science that has recently appeared in Chinese. 
Many thanks to the list for allowing me to discuss this theme, and many 
thanks to all FISers for the great discussions we are having!


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-- 
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Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA)
Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, planta X
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Tfno. +34 976 71 3526 (& 6818)
pcmarijuan.iacs at aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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