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by secondtimeuse
3812 days ago
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Paraphrasing Sussman-Minsky story [1], just because you rely on judgement does not means there is no algorithm, it's just that you don't know what the algorithm is. In a country like China with rampant corruption, Algorithms are a welcome relief. Schneier having never faced any kind of corruption at individual level completely ignores this giant problem. While the exact details of the algorithm might be debatable, yet having an algorithm as opposed to corrupt bureaucrats making arbitrary decisions is a welcome step. [1] "So Sussman began working on a program. Not long after, this odd-looking bald guy came over. Sussman figured the guy was going to boot him out, but instead the man sat down, asking, "Hey, what are you doing?" Sussman talked over his program with the man, Marvin Minsky. At one point in the discussion, Sussman told Minsky that he was using a certain randomizing technique in his program because he didn't want the machine to have any preconceived notions. Minsky said, "Well, it has them, it's just that you don't know what they are." It was the most profound thing Gerry Sussman had ever heard. And Minsky continued, telling him that the world is built a certain way, and the most important thing we can do with the world is avoid randomness, and figure out ways by which things can be planned. Wisdom like this has its effect on seventeen-year-old freshmen, and from then on Sussman was hooked." |
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_koan#Uncarved_block