Materialism: Minds and Machines

Are the mind and the brain the same thing? Can computers think? Is the brain essentially a computer?

Are the mind and the brain the same thing?

Descartes (again!?!) Indivisibility and Indubatibility: The Law of Identity states that for two things to be identical then each property of A must be the same as each part from B. The body is divisible, but the mind is not. - The body can be doubted but the mind cannot. (The Cogito)

Cartesian Dualism: There are two substances: Mind and Matter a.k.a. “Mind-body Dualism” a.k.a. “Substance Dualism” The mind is a non-physical thinking thing. The body is a physical non-thinking thing.

Monism: There is only one substance 1. Idealism: Thought/Mind is the only substance 2. Materialism: Matter/Body is the only substance

George Berkeley 1685 - 1753  Idealist

Idealism Thought/Mind is the only substance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQsOFQju08

Materialism Matter/Body is the only substance

Wilder Penfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqxhdffo_0c

What is a Mental State? If the brain is identical to the mind, how do we explain mental states?

Types of Materialism Behaviorism Reductive Materialism (Identity Theory) Eliminative Materialism Functionalism

Materialism : 1. Behaviorism Mental states (pain, fear, joy) can be reduced to patterns of behavior.

“The sugar cube is soluble” = Materialism : 1. Behaviorism “The sugar cube is soluble” = When placed in water, the sugar cube will behave by disintegrating as a cube and disperse its molecules into water evenly.

Materialism : 1. Behaviorism “I am cold” = “I am about to go get a blanket and turn up the heat”

“I want to go to Jamaica” = Materialism : 1. Behaviorism “I want to go to Jamaica” = I plan to look at tickets from American Airline online and make a purchase with a credit card. I will fill out a form to take time off of work. I will pack a bag full of clothing I will call a cab company to take me to the airport. I will board a plane which will fly to Jamaica.

Problems with Behaviorism: Materialism : 1. Behaviorism Problems with Behaviorism: 1. The string of dispositions and behaviors is far too long and indefinite to include by simply making the statement “I want to go to Jamaica.” 2. Qualia

Qualia The quality of an experience What is it like to feel pain? What is it like to see color? What is it like to taste lemonade? What is it like to feel a need for something?

Materialism 2. Reductive Materialism – a.k.a. Identity Theory Mental states of the brain are identical to physical states of the brain. We are physical organisms. We are part of evolutionary biology. Our mental depends on our physical (no brain means no thoughts)

Inter-theoretic Reduction Materialism 2. Reductive Materialism – a.k.a. Identity Theory Inter-theoretic Reduction “Hot” or “cold” = Total kinetic energy Is it the same? “I am hot” = “The kinetic energy is high.” “I am happy” = “My brain is releasing dopamine into my neural synapses. “

Materialism 2. Reductive Materialism – a.k.a. Identity Theory “I am cold” = “My kinetic energy is low”

Materialism 3. Eliminative Materialism We can’t get a 1 for 1 matchup like in Identity Theory, because our ‘folk psychology’ is wrong. I am hot, I am cold, I feel pain, are entirely wrong ways of phrasing the phenomenon they try to describe. Thus, the old framework will be eliminated.

Materialism 3. Eliminative Materialism Past Ideas Humors Witches The “Starry Sphere” Current Ideas Sleep Learning Differences in Intelligence

Materialism 3. Eliminative Materialism Eliminative Materialism is betting that neuroscience will entirely replace the way we talk about experience in ‘folk psychology’. While Identity theory is betting that these explanations (I am hot, I feel pain) will easily transfer over to brain states.

Materialism 3. Eliminative Materialism “I feel pain” = “I see the starry sphere of the heavens above us.” “I feel hot” = “My humors are out of balance.” Issue of language? What does pain refer to? Eliminative materialism argues -- nothing. Like witches or starry spheres. Maybe ‘revisionary materialism’ is a better term?

Materialism 3. Eliminative Materialism “I am cold” “My kinetic energy is low”

Materialism: 4. Functionalism The essential feature of a mental state is a set of causal relations: Environmental effects on the body. Other mental states effect on each other. Bodily Behavior (tired etc…). This is like Behaviorism, but involves more components. Not just envirnonmental input in, behavior out. There are many types of causes—external inputs and internal causes--that lead to behaviors.

Materialism: 4. Functionalism Pain comes from bodily damage or exhaustion but sometimes caused by other mental states, e.g. depression. Not simply pain in- behavior out.

Materialism: 4. Functionalism An alien could experience “pain” and function the same as a human, but have an entirely different genetic make-up.

Materialism: 4. Functionalism Problems with Functionalism: Inverted Spectrum and Qualia Red1 vs. Red2 Absent qualia?

Materialism: 4. Functionalism If I go get a blanket and turn up the heat, then “I am cold.” is true

What is thinking? Make a list

Alan Turing “Can Machines Think?” Is there a difference between [thinking & feeling] and [mimicking]?

The Turing Test The Imitation Game A (woman) B (man) --------------------------------- C (Interrogator)

AI/Hyper Realistic Androids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIWWLg4wLEY

The Chinese Room -John Searle

Thinking = Understanding ?

Watson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI-M7O_bRNg

Does Watson think? 5 reasons YES 5 reasons NO