The Art in Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

To better distinguish between historical precedent and rational argument, this first chapter gives an account of some of the intellectual issues of AI. These issues have divided AI into a number of factions - competing for public attention and, ultimately, research funding. The factions are presented here by an analogy with the movements of Fine Art. This is an elaboration of an idea due to Jackson [1986] and Maslov [1987]. The title of the chapter derives from Feigenbaum [1977].

The different movements in AI arose like their artistic counterparts as reactions against deficiencies in earlier movements. The movements of AI variously claim to have roots in logic, philosophy, psychology, neurophysiology, biology, control theory, operations research, sociology, economics and management. The account that follows is peppered with anecdotes. The more ancient anecdotes indicate that the issues that concern this product of the latter half of the 20th century have deep roots.