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Single Idea 3614

[from 'A Discourse on Method' by René Descartes, in 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 6. Artificial Thought / c. Turing Test ]

Full Idea

One may conceive of a machine made so as to emit words, and even emit them in response to a change in its bodily organs, such as being touched, but not to reply to the sense of everything said in its presence, as the most unintelligent men can.

Gist of Idea

A machine could speak in response to physical stimulus, but not hold a conversation

Source

René Descartes (A Discourse on Method [1637], §5.56)

Book Reference

Descartes,René: 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations', ed/tr. Sutcliffe,F.E. [Penguin 1968], p.74


A Reaction

A critique of the Turing Test, written in 1637! You have to admire. Because of the advent of the microprocessor, we can 'conceive' more sophisticated, multi-level machines than Descartes could come up with.