Four theories of the mind - Correct Answer dualism, behaviourism, identity theory, functionalism
2 controversies of the Turing Test - Correct Answer 1. empirical: will there ever be a computer that wins
the imitation game? 2. conceptual: if a computer does win the game, does that provide evidence that it
can actually think/has intelligence?
dualism - Correct Answer minds and bodies are distinct. A full mental life is possible without
perception/behaviour. leads to solipsism (can only know the self for sure) body is a house for the soul
- what about objective reality/ physicality?
behaviourism - Correct Answer mental statements would look to behaviour patterns for verification.
part of logical positivism (the only meaningful philosophical problems are those that can be solved
through logical analysis (falsifiable hypotheses)
- how about obviously internal states, and intentionality that fixes on an object but doesn't act on it?
identity theory (1) - Correct Answer synthesis between first person (subjective mind states only) and
third person (behaviour verification only) approaches
- but what about systems without brains, such as plants and machines?
identity theory (2) - Correct Answer - states and processes of the mind are identical to that of the brain
synthesis between first person (subjective mind states only) and third person (behaviour verification
only) approaches
- but what about systems without brains, such as plants and machines?
artificial versus natural - Correct Answer can both be "real" because of a functional characterization:
they do the same things that human/naturally constituted things do
- a computer can therefore be intelligent (verified through behaviour? or through analysis of the
cognitive functions being preformed)
2 controversies of the Turing Test - Correct Answer 1. empirical: will there ever be a computer that wins
the imitation game? 2. conceptual: if a computer does win the game, does that provide evidence that it
can actually think/has intelligence?
dualism - Correct Answer minds and bodies are distinct. A full mental life is possible without
perception/behaviour. leads to solipsism (can only know the self for sure) body is a house for the soul
- what about objective reality/ physicality?
behaviourism - Correct Answer mental statements would look to behaviour patterns for verification.
part of logical positivism (the only meaningful philosophical problems are those that can be solved
through logical analysis (falsifiable hypotheses)
- how about obviously internal states, and intentionality that fixes on an object but doesn't act on it?
identity theory (1) - Correct Answer synthesis between first person (subjective mind states only) and
third person (behaviour verification only) approaches
- but what about systems without brains, such as plants and machines?
identity theory (2) - Correct Answer - states and processes of the mind are identical to that of the brain
synthesis between first person (subjective mind states only) and third person (behaviour verification
only) approaches
- but what about systems without brains, such as plants and machines?
artificial versus natural - Correct Answer can both be "real" because of a functional characterization:
they do the same things that human/naturally constituted things do
- a computer can therefore be intelligent (verified through behaviour? or through analysis of the
cognitive functions being preformed)
