Re:The Chinese Room Argument
by joe_the_user on Sunday February 03, 2019 @06:07PM
(#19072817)
Well, while I'd both disagree with "hard problem" arguments and not see them as interesting, at least "hard problem" proponents will say directly there's some magic in humans that a computer can't have. Indeed, the "philosophical zombie" idea shows the magic is so transcendent that no evidence can determine whether a person has the magic (of qualia) or whether they are a dreaded Zombie.
In contrast, the Chinese Room argument jumps between "hard problem" metaphysics and the appearance of a materialistic perspective.
I recognize my inner life and consciousness, of course, but how and why would that preclude believing that they're manifestations of something that is only quantitatively different from my laptop? Quantity does matter.
If you want to claim that what your brain does is basically a more complicated version of what your laptop does, then you're free to make that case, but I don't think you honestly believe it yourself. You do recognize your own inner life.