ChatGPT writes a sonnet on recursion based on a text by St. Augustine [AI theory]

Do you recognize this passage?

The power of memory is prodigious, my God. It is a vast immeasurable sanctuary. Who can plumb its depths? And yet it is a faculty of my soul. Although it is part of my nature, I cannot understand all that I am. This means, then, that the mind is too narrow to contain itself entirely. But where is that part of it which it does not itself contain? Is it somewhere outside itself and not within it? How, then, can it be part of it, if it is not contained in it?

Yes, I recognize that passage. It is from the book "Confessions" (Confessiones) by Saint Augustine, a renowned Christian theologian and philosopher. The passage reflects Augustine's contemplation on the nature of memory and the complexity of self-awareness. "Confessions" is an autobiographical work in which Augustine reflects on his life, his spiritual journey, and his relationship with God.

What part of Augustine's Confessions is it from?

I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. The passage you provided doesn't seem to be from Augustine's "Confessions." I don't have specific information about the origin of that particular passage in my training data. If it's from a different work or author, I would need more context to identify it accurately. If you have more details or if there's a specific context you're looking for, please provide additional information, and I'll do my best to assist you.

Ah, but it is from the Confessions, Book Ten, Chapter 8, section 15.

I appreciate the clarification. Thank you for providing the specific details. The passage indeed comes from Augustine's "Confessions," and it appears in Book Ten, Chapter 8, section 15. Augustine's "Confessions" is a rich and introspective work, and this particular passage reflects his deep contemplation on the nature of memory and self-awareness. If you have any more questions or if there's anything else you'd like to discuss, feel free to let me know!

Using that passage as a source of thematic material, how about writing a sonnet on the theme of recursion.

In memory's vast and prodigious sea,
A sanctuary where the echoes play,
Recall, my God, the depths that stretch away,
A mind too narrow, seeking to be free.

Within its bounds, the soul's own mystery,
A dance of thoughts that never seem to stay,
Yet part of nature, in a curious way,
It questions what it holds, what cannot be.

The mind, a mirror, seeks its own embrace,
A recursive loop, a boundless quest,
To fathom depths that it cannot erase.

Does it contain itself, a paradox confessed?
Yet in this dance, where boundaries efface,
The soul finds truth, in questions unaddressed.

Wonderful!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you have any more requests, questions, or if there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to let me know. I'm here to assist!