Single Idea 3498

[catalogued under 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 6. Artificial Thought / b. Turing Machines]

Full Idea

Computational states are not discovered within the physics, they are assigned to the physics.

Gist of Idea

Computation isn't a natural phenomenon, it is a way of seeing phenomena

Source

John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 9.V)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.210


A Reaction

The key idea in Searle's later thinking, with which I have some sympathy. There always seems to be a sneaky dualism buried deep in Searle's physicalism. Computation is very high-level physics.