John Searle Functionalism
Functionalism is the idea that the mind is like a computer program, which is the software of the body. It asserts that anything which has the ability to utilize our minds has intentionality, the ability to have thoughts about something. John Searle presents an argument which counters this idea called the Chinese Room which claims that even if something can mimic the workings of the human mind, it does not have intentionality. Functionalism describes the theory speaking about the mind and the body; how the mind is akin to the software of a computer where the body is like the hardware of a computer. Functionalism explains that the mind would work the same way in a human body as it would if it were connected to a computer which has the capability to use it fully, however the body cannot function the same way with a different mind to control it. For example applications, certain applications can only be run on apple phones, where others can only be run on android phones. This is
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It argues that instead of being focused on the person like Searle is, it should focus on the system of the entire experiment. John Searle replies that even the system also does not understand Chinese, it knows the symbols and can apply their usage according to the instructions, but it does not understand Chinese. There is nothing different between the system and John Searle in this case, they are the same thing. Even if it is a robot who does all of the processes as opposed to Searle, there is no difference as it is still just monotonously doing what the book tells it to do to carry on a conversation.
The Chinese Room argument shows that computers do not have intentionality, as well as many other non-human thinking things. It argues for functionalism saying that if something has the ability to fully use our minds, it has intentionality, if it is only able to mimic our minds, it does not have
It argues that instead of being focused on the person like Searle is, it should focus on the system of the entire experiment. John Searle replies that even the system also does not understand Chinese, it knows the symbols and can apply their usage according to the instructions, but it does not understand Chinese. There is nothing different between the system and John Searle in this case, they are the same thing. Even if it is a robot who does all of the processes as opposed to Searle, there is no difference as it is still just monotonously doing what the book tells it to do to carry on a conversation.
The Chinese Room argument shows that computers do not have intentionality, as well as many other non-human thinking things. It argues for functionalism saying that if something has the ability to fully use our minds, it has intentionality, if it is only able to mimic our minds, it does not have