Philosophy 1130F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Human Computer, Computable Function, Materials Science
16 May 2019
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Descartes on the difference between minds and machines. A machine that mimicked an irrational animal would be indistinguishable from this animal. Machines exactly imitating humans would still not be humans. Some birds have the organs to use our language but they can"t converse with us, communicating some ideas with these words and thus demonstrate an understanding of these words. Organs can"t be arranged to replicate the actions of humans in all scenarios (the great variety of actions which can follow from knowledge as opposed to set programs instantiated in organ arrangements). So while a machine might perform certain particular tasks better than humans, they cannot perform the totality of tasks a human can perform. If nonhumans had their own language, as opposed to just standard vocalizations to particular sensory stimuli or certain desires, they would be able to communicate their thoughts to us. Georges boole an investigation of the laws of thought.
