If you can answer ‘yes’ to every “is x possible?” question about the problem, like
Is intelligence possible? Yes. (I am a mind.)
Can it be instantiated in a machine? Yes. (Minds are machines.)
Is looking at your own mind’s code, understanding it, and improving it possible? Yes. (I can understand code, but, alas, my brain is not available for me to hack. A mind made of code doesn’t have this limitation.)
you can say “What’s the use of trying? It’s but a matter of doing it. I will simply do it. I will begin now. I will stop when I’m done.” When you know that success is not forbidden by the laws of physics, trying ends and doing begins.
Right now I am doing and at one point in time I will say: “It worked.” The only thing that is uncertain is when.
If you can answer ‘yes’ to every “is x possible?” question about the problem, like
Is intelligence possible? Yes. (I am a mind.) Can it be instantiated in a machine? Yes. (Minds are machines.) Is looking at your own mind’s code, understanding it, and improving it possible? Yes. (I can understand code, but, alas, my brain is not available for me to hack. A mind made of code doesn’t have this limitation.)
you can say “What’s the use of trying? It’s but a matter of doing it. I will simply do it. I will begin now. I will stop when I’m done.” When you know that success is not forbidden by the laws of physics, trying ends and doing begins.
Right now I am doing and at one point in time I will say: “It worked.” The only thing that is uncertain is when.