Matter & Memory

Brad De Long delong at econ.Berkeley.EDU
Tue Apr 4 18:39:09 PDT 2000



>Brad De Long wrote:
>
>> Searle's argument proves that a collection of electro-chemically
>> activated cells can fulfill the functions of a mind without anything
>> within the collection comprehending *anything.* That means we have no
>> basis for believing that brains "think," i.e. engage in cognition.
>> Now, do you have any response to this argument?
>
>That is correct. We also do not have any reason to believe that
>any potential candidate for the task of thinker exists. I suppose
>myself the "answer" (assuming answers can be found to every
>question humans choose to ask) will be found somewhere in
>the general realm of the intersections of neuroscience and
>social relations. Or we might not ever know. Worse things
>have happened to the human species.


:-)



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