I’d like to add a rebuttal I tend to agree with: You’re only a component of a larger system, and the whole system (you + the room + your list of instructions) does encode some understanding, otherwise a chinese speaker wouldn’t be able to interact with the room in any meaningful way.
In almost any system, you can look at a specific part and argue that part doesn’t fulfill a property that the entire system taken as one does.
But in this case you is unnecessary if a mechanism can perform that part, and understanding then completely doesn’t rely on consciousness. This is a bit weird way to think about it, but it seems to be a semantic difference
No, you’re still a necessary part of the system, since otherwise there is no interaction possible. And yes, I don’t think understanding relies on consciousness.
I’d like to add a rebuttal I tend to agree with: You’re only a component of a larger system, and the whole system (you + the room + your list of instructions) does encode some understanding, otherwise a chinese speaker wouldn’t be able to interact with the room in any meaningful way.
In almost any system, you can look at a specific part and argue that part doesn’t fulfill a property that the entire system taken as one does.
It’s still the same argument. If the conversation is carried on your end by a bunch of if-else instructions, there’s no consciousness to be found.
Yes, I think it proves that understanding does not require consciousness.
So you’re saying that my program that does
if obj isinstance cat: obj.pet(), understands what a cat is?No, and if you want to discuss the philosophical idea, please don’t waste my time with dumb questions.
But in this case you is unnecessary if a mechanism can perform that part, and understanding then completely doesn’t rely on consciousness. This is a bit weird way to think about it, but it seems to be a semantic difference
No, you’re still a necessary part of the system, since otherwise there is no interaction possible. And yes, I don’t think understanding relies on consciousness.
Where is the semantic difference?