Single Idea 2577

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

Full Idea

In the simplest Turing-machine version of functionalism (Putnam 1967), mental states are identified with the total Turing-machine state, involving a machine table and its inputs and outputs.

Gist of Idea

Simple machine-functionalism says mind just is a Turing machine

Source

Ned Block (Troubles with Functionalism [1978], p. 70)

Book Reference

'The Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Beakley,B /Ludlow P [MIT 1992], p.70


A Reaction

This obviously invites the question of why mental states would be conscious and phenomenal, given that modern computers are devoid of same, despite being classy Turing machines.