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.