Re:A Short Rebuttal to Searle (1984) [pdf]
by sethev on Sunday January 20, 2019 @11:23AM
(#18953726)
Thought experiment is the right term for it. It applies equally to a brain if you think that the chemical and electrical processes in the brain are identical to understanding. Searle believes that consciousness is a fundamental fact.
His real argument exists in a bunch of stuff he wrote about intentionality (the real argument probably still fails - but it's more nuanced than the Chinese room stuff everyone talks about).
If you want a really good paper about the problems around machines and minds check out "Troubles with Functionalism" by Ned Block