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The myth of the Turing machine: the failings of functionalism and related theses 

Author: Chris Eliasmith
DOI: 10.1080/09528130210153514
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year
Published in: journal Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence, Volume 14, Issue 1 March 2002 , pages 1 - 8
Number of References: 17
Formats available: PDF (English)
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Abstract

The properties of Turing's famous 'universal machine' has long sustained functionalist intuitions about the nature of cognition. This paper shows that there is a logical problem with standard functionalist arguments for multiple realizability. These arguments rely essentially on Turing's powerful insights regarding computation. In addressing a possible reply to this criticism, it is further argued that functionalism is not a useful approach for understanding what it is to have a mind. In particular, it is shown that the difficulties involved in distinguishing implementation from function make multiple realizability claims untestable and uninformative. As a result, it is concluded that the role of Turing machines in philosophy of mind needs to be reconsidered.
Keywords: Turing Machine; Functionalism; Multiple Realizability; Computational; Equivalence; Philosophy Of Mind; Kolmogorov
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