The Pseudorealisation Fallacy

Fantastic realisations of the computational theory of mind, such as Searle's man in a Chinese Room, are irrelevant to empirical psychology. Relevant realisations are subject to empirical constraints; they can't be pseudorealisations.

For instance, although by some stretch the imagination is stomach can be thought of as an information processor, such a realisation is likely to be ad hoc. The stomach must consistently exhibit the kind of processing specified by information processing psychology. One can't just pick out a new section of the stomach each time a new computational state is required.

James Moor, 1988.

"the empirical content of a theory limits the kinds of realizations which are possible." (p. 49)

Note: for more multiple realisability arguments, see the "Is a brain a computer?" arguments on Map 1, the "Can functional states generate consciousness?" arguments on Map 6, and sidebar, "Formal systems: an overview" on Map 7.
RELATED ARTICLESExplain
Artificial Intelligence
Can computers think? [1]
Yes: physical symbol systems can think [3]
The Chinese Room Argument [4]
The Pseudorealisation Fallacy
Man in Chinese Room would have to be an alien
James Moor
The Syntax-Semantics Barrier
Only minds are intrinsically intentional
Understanding arises from right causal powers
Can't process symbols predicationally or oppositionally
Chinese Room refutes strong AI not weak AI
The Combination Reply
The Systems Reply
Robot reply: Robots can think
The Brain Simulator Reply
The Many Mansions Reply
Searle's Chinese Room is trapped in a dilemma
Chinese Room more than a simulation
Man in Chinese Room doesn't instantiate a progam
Chinese-speaking too limited a counterexample
The Chinese Room makes a modularity assumption
Man in Room understands some Chinese questions
The Chinese Room argument is circular
There are questions the Chinese Room can't answer
Graph of this discussion
Enter the title of your article


Enter a short (max 500 characters) summation of your article
Enter the main body of your article
Lock
+Comments (0)
+Citations (0)
+About
Enter comment

Select article text to quote
welcome text

First name   Last name 

Email

Skip