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Single Idea 7388

[from 'The Problem of Consciousness' by Colin McGinn, in 17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 6. Mysterianism ]

Full Idea

McGinn invites his readers to join him in surrender: It's just impossible to imagine how software could make a conscious robot. Don't even try, he says. Other philosophical experiments (involving China) "work" by dissuading readers from imagining.

Gist of Idea

McGinn invites surrender, by saying it is hopeless trying to imagine conscious machines

Source

comment on Colin McGinn (The Problem of Consciousness [1991]) by Daniel C. Dennett - Consciousness Explained 14.1

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Consciousness Explained' [Penguin 1993], p.435


A Reaction

I agree with Dennett. If you don't try to imagine how robots might do it, you are also denied the right to try to imagine how brains might manage it. Admittedly this is hard, but good imagination needs study, effort, discussion, time, information...