EDITORIAL
Some philosophers have believed in a Great Immanent Intellect.
Over personal as He is, He does not coincide with
my own intellect, Charles's or even my aunt's. He does
think, however, the sundry personal intellects, which, if
they study the right sort of metaphysics, can conceive
Him in their own turn and get to know everything about
Him. To the over personal Intellect, personal matters
are mere illusions. However He deals with them all, while
pursuing all His universal projects.
The planetary communication network is a sort of great
Intellect: so much so that it is said to have artificial
intelligence. Artificial means «to be made according
to some norm». The intelligence of the Great
Intellect
too is made according to norms (supposedly excellent)
by the Great Intellect itself, in the same way as software
makes software. The artificial intellect, like its metaphysical
counterpart, deals with illusions; indifferent to personal
matters, he knows them all. He errs, but blushes not
(a coloured intellect would be unimaginable). Those who
do not know him, obey him; those who do, direct him
according to their desires. The Great Intellect too lets
Himself be mastered by sundry wills, which then He explains
and justifies. Some thinkers have counteracted the metaphysics
of logical idealism with the metaphysics of the person;
similarly many people would find the artificial intellect
too overpowering. When dealing with such problems that
so much affect our life, we should do well to keep
them at a distance, without coursing at them or shouting
for joy.
(Transl. Prof. Bruno Gallo)