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Minds, Brains, and Programs

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Quantum & AI Chinese Room argument

By John Searle

Summary

If a person follows a rule-book to simulate Chinese conversation, they don't understand Chinese. Similarly, a program executing symbol-manipulation has no understanding, semantics, or consciousness — only syntax. Strong AI (that a properly programmed computer *is* a mind) is false.

Why It Matters

The most famous argument against AI consciousness. Whether or not one accepts it, any theory of AI consciousness must address Searle's challenge.

Notes

This entry is a seed import from the Phase 1 Knowledge Inventory. It has not yet been manually reviewed.