HOW INTELLIGENCE EVOLVES AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPICS.


-sensory input-
although things may need sensors to evolve intelligence, they are not necessary to learn. a computer can run programs and make relations between them right? that would be a form of learning, and yet it has no sensors.
when we dream, we can learn or think about things, with no or little sensory input (zero in the case of sensory deprevation )
hallucinations, for instance, can disrupt or override the traditional perception process, and you may remember that you saw that weird squigly thing, when it really did not exist.

although sensors are important for perceiving the environment, many studies have shown that our brain actually makes assumptions and generalizations about the majority of sensory input. for instance, the majority of the cells in our eye detect intensities of light, while the few others detect its frequencies, yet, our entire visual perception is in color. also, only about 1/3 of our vision is stereo -the rest is 2D- yet we perceive 3D. etc etc etc.

the brain is designed to process -it cant stop or do anything else- during sensory deprevation, hallucinations occur like mad -does this mean the brain is not being intelligent? it is manifesting possibly complex things and making relations between them - - - this is a classic function of intelligence.

if an agent were born with a complex brain, and no sensors, some things may happen in regards to learning:
a) the brain has contexts imposed by genetics, and, even without data, it may make associations between contexts, instincts, and NULL data...
b) the brain makes random associations due to the natural dynamics in the brain.
c)the brain does nothing but degrade.
in regards to acting:
a)the brain maintains functions not related to, or dependent on, intelligence. (such as maintaining resperation, chem levels, etc.)
b)the brain does nothing, resulting in death.

in most of these cases, intelligence cannot exist - - even if the brain is doing something, it cannot get FEEDBACK on output, and that is the single thing required to behave intelligently.

-instincts-

instincts create contexts, and contexts are required for data to be meaningful. an instinct is any behaviors influenced by genetics, therefore, we can have instincts to sleep, cry, eat, explore, etc...
once a contexts is established, data can begin to be associated with appropriate components of that context, resulting in learning and establishing new contexts. there are many fundamental functions in the learning process that are probably insticts, such as observation, trial and error, drives, etc. this means we use instincts to learn about instincts to learn about other stuff!

-emotion-
an emotion is probably a very complex way of creating or determining meaning, again, you need to think in terms of contexts. anyone that says emotions are bad or not required doesnt know what an emotion is or what it is used for. the bottom line is that emotions are a HUGE part of human intelligence. without emotion, there wouldnt be any forms of bonding, and probably no forms of compelx communication. emotion may be imperical data mixed in with random or speculative data, allowing creativity and complex problem solving. its important to realize that many things humans have classified as emotion may not really be emotions, instead they may be forms of instinct or communication. emotion might be conflict between instinct and knowledge. each emotion could probably be classified differently, so to avoid writtin a paper, it should just be said that many forms of emotion exist, even if all forms are not ''real'' emotions.

so in summary,
1) in what context?
2) yes, definately
3) yes