wrote in message
ups.com...
OK, are you thinking of "nothing"?

Rich:

No, not hardly. Trick question... Trick Question.

Note the form of the question (trick). You know that the entity is
intelligent and capable of self-replication. From this, assume the
following:

a) The form you perceive (by whatever means) is organized in a way that
you see it as a definable entity. It may be a collective or a single
entity, but it is definable.
b) You see activity, material, evidence or results that show
self-replication. From replication one deducts self-awareness or
purpose.

LOL... think about it...!

I'm not sure I dare look in the fridge now that I know my lettuce is
self-aware.


c) You also see activity, evidence or results that strongly suggest
intelligence. So, this entity will pass the Turing test.

That's a pretty big leap. You're assuming the entity has a system of
communication similar to our written or spoken language. Which isn't
necessarily the case.


That making
the test mutually understandable may be difficult is beside the
point... right now.

Bottom line here. DON'T try too hard.

Having gone as far as the above three things (as they are assumed by
the form of the question): How would one communicate? Apart from magic?


You would start with numbers. 1.414..... starting in binary, and then
in any base as might fit. Any entity with mathematics would know this
number. Or, 3.1415.... and so forth. Numbers no good? Make patterns
that do not exist in nature. The pythagorean triangle with the squares
shown.

You really are totally convinced that there's no other way of thinking about
things than the one you happen to know, aren't you?. At least *try* to be a
bit open-minded!