Which of these are machines?

[The idea]

Should there be a Humane Society that protects computers from abuse at the hands of sadistic computer programmers?

 

[The idea]

I forgot to include the universe as one of the options. Where is Spinoza when you need him?

 

[Iacchus]

Should there be a Humane Society that protects computers from abuse at the hands of sadistic computer programmers?

Well, there's a mechanical aspect to everything, it's just that some things are more animated than others. In which case we have to ask what does this animation entail?

I don't know, do computers have feelings?

 

[The idea]

Well, there's a mechanical aspect to everything [...]

Now you're getting interested in robotically delicious plates of spaghetti and mechanically complex clockwork oranges?

 

[Iacchus]

Now you're getting interested in robotically delicious plates of spaghetti and mechanically complex clockwork oranges?

Well, when I say mechanical I mean physical, however it's the spirit which animates things.

 

[Piscivore]

You neglected "All of the above"

 

[Iacchus]

Yeah, it didn't work for me either when I tried checking off all of them.

 

[Piscivore]

Should there be a Humane Society that protects computers from abuse at the hands of sadistic computer programmers?

There are- Norton and Symantec, for starters.

 

[Yahweh]

I forgot to include the universe as one of the options.

And checkboxes...

 

[Dancing David]

All of the above, but we argue that machines are made by humans.

 

[The idea]

All of the above, but [...]

I don't know whether it's worthwhile for me to converse with an entity that claims to be a machine.

 

[c0rbin]

According to this definition (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=machine), all of these are machines.

You might want to refine that which you are asking.

 

[The idea]

According to this definition (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=machine), all of these are machines.

You might want to refine that which you are asking.

You might want to find a more accurate dictionary.

 

[c0rbin]

You might have a suggestion as to which dictionary I use?

 

[roger]

Does the Oxford English Dictionary meet your standards, The Idea?

I. A structure regarded as functioning as an independent body, without mechanical involvement

edited to add: My apologies, I left out the relevant quote:

2. A living body, esp. the human body considered in general or individually

 

[c0rbin]

Well....?

 

[The idea]

Does the Oxford English Dictionary meet your standards [...]?

Same question back at you: does the Oxford English Dictionary meet your standards?

How does it define the following terms:

(1) Integration (as in finding the definite or indefinite integral of a function, with particular attention to the definite integral. Please pay attention to the difference between (A) a sloppy definition along with a tautology and (B) a reasonable definition along with a useful theorem.)

(2) Plant

(3) Animal

(4) Virus

(5) Plastic (as in the substance)

(6) Wax

(7) Glass

(8) Sand

(9) Water

(10) Distill (for example, convert tap water into distilled water)

(11) Life

(12) Evolution (as in biological evolution)

(13) Set (as in collection or family or aggregation)

(14) Star

(15) Galaxy

(16) Geometry

(17) Analysis (as in the branch of mathematics that historically developed from calculus)

(18) Knot (as in something boyscouts learn to tie)

Well, that should be enough for now. Are the definitions in that dictionary good ones?

 

[roger]

Yes, the OED meets my standards, and then some. I'm not going to do your homework assignment, however.

But, to give you an idea of how the OED defines a word, it expends 16,404 words, 1691 lines for the definition and etymology of the noun sand. I will not quote it for copyright issues, but it starts with:

1. a. A material consisting of comminuted fragments and water-worn particles of rocks (mainly silicious) finer than those of which gravel is composed; often spec. as the material of a beach, desert, or the bed of a river or sea.

Yes, that and the rest meets my standards.

 

[c0rbin]

Boring.

The Idea you are afraid of making a point.. I suggested you refine your initial question and you blossom it into a thicker quagmire.

Way to go.

 

[Dancing David]

I don't know whether it's worthwhile for me to converse with an entity that claims to be a machine.

Yes yes and Hamme always says that if you feel 'you could be replaced by servos and a computer', but the point remains that machines are just agreegates of things that do stuff. I haven't seen any proof of the elan vital yet.
Could some day, just not yet.