Can Computers Think?

I. Turing

P1: A computer can pass the Turing Test.

P2: Passing the Turing Test is sufficient for thinking.

2a: Passing the Turing Test is sufficient for being behaviorally indistinguishable from a typical human.

2b: Being behaviorally indistinguishable from a typical human is sufficient for thinking.

C: Computers can think.

II. Searle

P1: Thinking requires understanding.

P2: Computers can merely manipulate symbols.

P3: Symbol manipulation is not sufficient for thinking.

3a: The Chinese Room can manipulate symbols and mimic the behavior of a Chinese speaker.

3b: The Chinese Room does not understand Chinese.

C: Computers cannot think.

III. Lycan

P1: Henry is like Harry in all relevant respects.

P2: Harry can think.

C1: So Henry can think.

P3: Henry is like a computer in all relevant respects.

C2: So computers can think.