Searle on Minds and Computers

John Searle, "Minds, Brains, and Programs," Behavioral and Brain Sciences 3 (March, 1980): 417-57.

John Searle (1932- ) is a noted American philosopher. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy at Oxford studying under noted British philosopher John Austin. He currently is the Willis S. and Marion Slusser Professor of Philosophy of Mind and Language at the University of California at Berkeley.

Recent books include The Mystery of Consciousness (1997), Mind, Language and Society: Philosophy in the Real World (1998), Rationality in Action (2001), Mind (2004), and Liberté et Neurobiologie (2004). He teaches philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and philosophy of social science; recent seminars topics include consciousness, free will, and rationality. He is best known for his criticisms of computationalism and artificial intelligence. These depend significantly upon his theory of nature of consciousness and intentionality.

Readings

"Minds, Brains, and Programs."

"Searle and the Chinese Room Argument," The Mind Project Curriculum, Consortium on Cognitive Science Instruction (CCSI). [a summary of the argument with Flash animations depicting different versions.]

Review Questions.

1. Explain the "Chinese Room" argument. According to Searle, what does it prove? Explain.
   
   
2. Searle argues that the Turing test is "inadequate." What are his reasons for rejecting it as a litmus test for intelligence? Explain.