Abstract
When certain formal symbol systems (e.g., computer programs) are implemented as dynamic physical symbol systems (e.g., when they are run on a computer) their activity can be interpreted at higher levels (e.g., binary code can be interpreted as LISP, LISP code can be interpreted as English, and English can be interpreted as a meaninguful conversation). These higher levels of interpretability are called ‘virtual’ systems. If such a virtual system is interpretable as if it had a mind, is such a ‘virtual mind’ real?
This is the question addressed in this ‘virtual’ symposium, originally conducted electronically among four cognitive scientists. Donald Perlis, a computer scientist, argues that according to the computationalist thesis, virtual minds are real and hence Searle's Chinese Room Argument fails, because if Searle memorized and executed a program that could pass the Turing Test in Chinese he would have a second, virtual, Chinese-understanding mind of which he was unaware (as in multiple personality). Stevan Harnad, a psychologist, argues that Searle's Argument is valid, virtual minds are just hermeneutic overinterpretations, and symbols must be grounded in the real world of objects, not just the virtual world of interpretations. Computer scientist Patrick Hayes argues that Searle's Argument fails, but because Searle does not really implement the program: a real implementation must not be homuncular but mindless and mechanical, like a computer. Only then can it give rise to a mind at the virtual level. Philosopher Ned Block suggests that there is no reason a mindful implementation would not be a real one.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Harnad, S. (1989), ‘Minds, Machines and Searle’,Journal of Theoretical and Experimental Artificial Intelligence 1, pp. 5–25.
Harnad, S. (1990a), ‘The Symbol Grounding Problem’,Physica D 42, pp. 335–346.
Harnad, S. (1990b), ‘Lost in the Hermeneutic Hall of Mirrors’. Invited Commentary on: Michael Dyer: ‘Minds, Machines, Searle and Harnad’,Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence 2, pp. 321–327.
Harnad, S. (1991), ‘Other Bodies, Other Minds: A Machine Incarnation of an Old Philosophical Problem’,Minds and Machines 1, pp. 43–54.
Harnad, S. (1992), ‘Connecting Object to Symbol in Modeling Cognition’, in A. Clarke and R. Lutz, eds.,Connectionism in Context, Springer Verlag, pp. 25–90.
Maudlin, T. (1989), ‘Computation and Consciousness’,Journal of Philosophy LXXXVI (8), pp. 407–432.
Putnam, H. (1975),Mind, Language and Reality, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Searle, J.R. (1980), ‘Minds, Brains and Programs’,Behavioral and Brain Sciences,3, pp. 417–457.
Searle, J.R. (1990), ‘Is the Brain a Digital Computer?’Presidential Address. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Association 64, pp. 21–37.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayes, P., Harnad, S., Perlis, D. et al. Virtual Symposium on Virtual Mind. Mind Mach 2, 217–238 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02454221
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02454221