Author: Robin Smith
Date: 16:50:02 03/14/01
Go up one level in this thread
On March 14, 2001 at 18:49:25, Djordje Vidanovic wrote: >On March 14, 2001 at 15:04:28, Peter McKenzie wrote: > >>On March 14, 2001 at 14:07:36, Christophe Theron wrote: >> >>>On March 14, 2001 at 13:03:27, José Antônio Fabiano Mendes wrote: >>> >>>> http://personalidentity.tripod.com/id27.htm >>> >>> >>>Part 2 is a real bullshit. The author tries to demonstrate that computers do not >>>"know" chess, and he actually demonstrates that he does not "know" computers and >>>that he does not "know" the human brain. >>> >>>I have heard more meaningful comments in a pub, even very late at night. >> >>Ah yes, Searle's argument is clearly refuted by the well known reasoning: >>'Christophe says it is bullshit, therefore it is bullshit'. I happen to >>disagree with Searle's Chinese Room argument, but I don't think its as clear as >>just saying it is a pile of crap. In fact, I think he makes some very good >>points. >> >>Peter >> >>> >>> >>> Christophe > > >I tend to agree with Peter. Searle's argument is based on a simple stipulation >that the coded instructions of a program (Chinese character manipulation program >in the given case) are insufficient to account for the meanings of the symbols >or of the set of sentences generated with their help. This, further, implies >that functional, or computational, explanations are insufficient to account for >referential semantics (plain English: reference), and, as such, for >intentionality which is the hallmark of humans. > >This kind of argument can be criticised, but not dismissed lightly. I've been >having problems for quite some time with it :-)) > >*** Djordje Searle goes on in section 3 to talk about the problem of consciousness. This is a REAL hard problem. Why is it that some brain processes result in consciousness, or awareness, or a sense of self .... Descartes "I think therefore I am", while other brain processes such as those that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, intestinal action etc. are outside conscious experience? Until we understand consciousness in humans I don't see how anyone can answer questions about whether or not what a computer does (such as Deep Blue) makes it conscious. Robin Smith
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