Is the Real World Independent of Our Minds? (Part 3)
Philosopher Hilary Putnam continues his discussion of whether or not the external world is independent of our minds. At one time he made the statement that there is no real world independent of our conceptual system--a statement which he now regrets...
Artificial Intelligence
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about initial efforts in the late 1950's to give computers human-like intelligence, which came to be known as artificial intelligence, or "AI."
Artificial Intelligence: The Common Sense Problem
Professor of Philosophy Hubert Dreyfus talks about recognizing early on that computers using only symbols and rules can't match what a human brain can do, because the machines lack what we call common sense.
Artificial Intelligence and the Mind
Philosopher Hilary Putnam talks about artificial intelligence, stating that the only things it has taught us about cognition is pattern recognition. He contends that it has taught us nothing about induction, natural language use or reasoning.
The Turing Test
Philosopher John Searle talks about the Turing test, based on a paper written by Alan Turing in 1950, in which a test was devised to measure whether a computer could simulate the working of a human brain.
The Chinese Room Argument
Philosopher John Searle goes through the "Chinese room argument" to prove that no matter how powerful computers are, they aren't minds. Professor Searle explains that while the computer can very rapidly manipulate formal, syntactical objects (such a...