On Understanding in Communicating Systems and the Error in the Chinese Room Thought-Experiment

Abstract

John Searle has proposed the Chinese Room thought-experiment to refute the notion of what he calls strong Al (Artificial Intelligence), that is that thinking is merely the manipulation of formal symbols. We discuss the Chinese Room thought-experiment, and show that Searle's argument is in error. We show, therefore, that the Chinese Room thought-experiment provides no grounds for the conclusion that computer hardware, solely on the basis of running computer software, can never be regarded as intelligent.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA231643

Entities

People

  • S. C. Giess
  • T. A. White

Organizations

  • Royal Signals and Radar Establishment

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Propagation
  • Chinese Language
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Construction
  • Dictionaries
  • Digital Computers
  • English Language
  • Foreign Languages
  • Language
  • Linguistics
  • Natural Languages
  • Neurobehavioral Manifestations
  • Observers
  • Personality
  • Semantics

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Neurological Diseases/Conditions/Disorders
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy