The Emotion Machine

In this mind-expanding book, scientific pioneer Marvin Minsky continues his groundbreaking research, offering a fascinating new model for how our minds work. He argues persuasively that emotions, intuitions, and feelings are not distinct things, but different ways of thinking. By examining these different forms of mind activity, Minsky says, we can explain why our thought some...

In this mind-expanding book, scientific pioneer Marvin Minsky continues his groundbreaking research, offering a fascinating new model for how our minds work. He argues persuasively that emotions, intuitions, and feelings are not distinct things, but different ways of thinking. By examining these different forms of mind activity, Minsky says, we can explain why our thought sometimes takes the form of carefully reasoned analysis and at other times turns to emotion. He shows how our minds progress from simple, instinctive kinds of thought to more complex forms, such as consciousness or self-awareness. And he argues that because we tend to see our thinking as fragmented, we fail to appreciate what powerful thinkers we really are. Indeed, says Minsky, if thinking can be understood as the step-by-step process that it is, then we can build machines -- artificial intelligences -- that not only can assist with our thinking by thinking as we do but have the potential to be as conscious as we are. Eloquently written, The Emotion Machine is an intriguing look into a future where more powerful artificial intelligences await.

马文·明斯基（Marvin Minsky）

人工智能领域的先驱之一，是首批机械人手臂、世界上第一个神经网络模拟器Snare、世界上最早能够模拟人类活动的机器人Robot C的创建者。同时，他还是世界上第一个人工智能实验室——MIT人工智能实验室的联合创始人，以及虚拟现实（VR）的最早倡导者。

作为一位伟大的人工智能科学家，明斯基获奖无数：他是人工智能领域首位图灵奖获得者、MIT 1989年Killian奖获得者，并于1990年获得日本政府所设立的“日本奖”。此外，明斯基还是日本东芝公司媒体艺术和科学领域的教授，美国科学院和美国工程院院士，曾出任美国人工智能学会主席。