[ExI] Semiotics and Computability (was: The digital nature of brains)

[Spencer Campbell]

Stathis Papaioannou <stathisp at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm not completely sure what you're saying in this post, but at some
> point the string of symbol associations (A means B, B means C, C means
> D...) is grounded in sensory input.

I'm talking about syntax and semantics, but especially syntax. In the
context of this discussion, you're making a statement about semantics.

One assumption (or conclusion, it's hard to tell) made by the
notorious Gordon Swobe is that digital computers are capable of
syntax, but not of semantics. I made that post to explore the question
of whether or not that's even possible in theory.

If I was vague and difficult to understand (I was), that might be due
to the fact I have a very fuzzy idea of what Gordon means when he
talks about syntax, and his is the definition I tried to use. I
wouldn't describe your typical CPU as performing syntactical
operations normally, but here I would do so without hesitation.