The Chinese Room argument counters only the assertion that the computational mechanism that manipulates symbols is capable of understanding. But in more sophisticated approaches to AGI, the computational mechanism is not the agent, it's merely a platform.
Take the OpenCog design. See in particular: http://www.opencog.org/wiki/OpenCogPrime:EmergenceOverview The 'phenomenal self' emerges as a consequence of interaction with the environment and the continuous search for explanations of behavior (including its own). It is this emergent self that is the agent of understanding. The computational framework that facilitates the interaction is merely a platform. Nobody would say that the computer manipulating the symbols has understanding (in accordance with the Chinese Room), but it is possible that someday we'd agree that OpenCog the *agent* has achieved it. Terren --- On Tue, 8/5/08, Abram Demski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The original argument was put forward to show that all AI > is > impossible, not just symbolic AI. I can see why someone > might take it > the other way, but I don't think it works; the > complicated instruction > books inside the room could implement either a symbolic AI > or a > nonsymbolic one. The details would need to be changed; > perhaps you > want video input rather than chinese input, and > robot-control as > output. And we'd need some silly trick like a timewarp > to make the > robot move in real time. But I think Searle would still > stick to his > guns and say that the person in the room does not > comprehend the data > he is manipulating (the 1s and 0s from the video feed), > therefore no > understanding occurs. > > So, Terren, in my opinion you should drop the chinese room > in > connection with your argument. It simply has too much > historical > baggage. > > -Abram > > > ------------------------------------------- > agi > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now > RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ > Modify Your Subscription: > https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=108809214-a0d121 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
