PHI 2010
2.3 Study Questions
1. According to functionalism, a mental states are functional states meaning that the mind is what the brain does.
2. Lewis’ pained madman thought experiment describes a man that feels pain for different reasons than most. It attempts to undermine functionalism by showing how being in a certain functional state is not a necessary condition for being in a mental state.
3. The Block’s Chinese Nation thought experiment describes a situation in which the people in China function like neurons. His experiment attempts to undermine functionalism by showing a functional organization does not have a mind, thus not being a sufficient condition for having a mind.
4. Putnam’s Inverted Spectrum thought experiment is two people that sees blue things as red and vice versa. It attempts to undermine functionalism by stating even though they may be in the same functional state they are not in the same mental state.
5. The turning test for intelligence is a test that determines whether a computer can “think” by asking questions. To pass the test the computer would have to lie.
6. Searle’s Chinese Room thought experiment is describes a situation in which a person is locked in a room filled with Chinese symbols and book in English that matches them to other symbols thus, allowing the person to answer any question asked while remaining ignorant of their doing so. This also allows them to pass the turning test while remaining ignorant. This attempts to undermine the turning test by showing how passing the test is not a sign of intelligence.
7. Intentionality is the property of mental states that make them of or about something else.
8. Block’s Conversational Jukebox thought experiment attempts to undermine the turning test by showing that there’s more to being intelligent than producing a certain output. It also shows that the output is important because if the product is produced without any thought being needed than it can pass the test without
1. According to functionalism, a mental states are functional states meaning that the mind is what the brain does.
2. Lewis’ pained madman thought experiment describes a man that feels pain for different reasons than most. It attempts to undermine functionalism by showing how being in a certain functional state is not a necessary condition for being in a mental state.
3. The Block’s Chinese Nation thought experiment describes a situation in which the people in China function like neurons. His experiment attempts to undermine functionalism by showing a functional organization does not have a mind, thus not being a sufficient condition for having a mind.
4. Putnam’s Inverted Spectrum thought experiment is two people that sees blue things as red and vice versa. It attempts to undermine functionalism by stating even though they may be in the same functional state they are not in the same mental state.
5. The turning test for intelligence is a test that determines whether a computer can “think” by asking questions. To pass the test the computer would have to lie.
6. Searle’s Chinese Room thought experiment is describes a situation in which a person is locked in a room filled with Chinese symbols and book in English that matches them to other symbols thus, allowing the person to answer any question asked while remaining ignorant of their doing so. This also allows them to pass the turning test while remaining ignorant. This attempts to undermine the turning test by showing how passing the test is not a sign of intelligence.
7. Intentionality is the property of mental states that make them of or about something else.
8. Block’s Conversational Jukebox thought experiment attempts to undermine the turning test by showing that there’s more to being intelligent than producing a certain output. It also shows that the output is important because if the product is produced without any thought being needed than it can pass the test without