[ExI] Digital Consciousness .

[Stathis Papaioannou]

On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 3:35 PM, Gordon <gts_2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Stathis,
>
>> It's [the computational model of mind] not that the brain is like a
>> computer, it's that the brain could
>> be replaced by a computer performing the same functions
>
> I believe that is only how AI researchers (understandably) want to interpret
> it. The theory itself is a position in the philosophy of mind. .

As far as I am aware no philosopher of mind has started with the
assumption that brains and computers are similar kinds of things. They
are clearly different, made of different stuff and arranged
differently. What they have in common is that they process information
and exhibit (sometimes) intelligent behaviour.

>> The homunculus problem, such as it may be, is as much a problem for the
>> brain as
>> for the computer.
>
> It seems it is not a problem for the brain. (Does your brain have a
> homunculous problem? Mine doesn't! :-) It is rather a problem for certain
> philosophies of mind, including this one upon which so much AI research
> depends.

My point was that if it is not a problem for the brain it is not a
problem for a computer that replaces the brain. Whys should it be?


-- 
Stathis Papaioannou