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Originally Posted by David Bailey  Well you will have to refer back to my previous post, but there I effectively asked the question "What is a computer program?". I think I demonstrated that together with a given set of input/output (both of which might be empty if the program were simulating a brain engaged in thought), the whole lot acts as a (rather unusual) theorem. Yes, you may use a computer to plough through the steps, but that is (at least in principle) just for convenience. If you really believe a computer program (possibly executing) is conscious, then you are actually attributing consciousness to theorems! Running a program is really no more than a bureaucratic checking process - like you might check the steps in proving Pythagarus' theorem.
David |
Are you saying that the computer isn't needed to run the programs like the bakery isn't needed to make the recipies? So cooking recipies and programs are just theorems?
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