Calculation & Consciousness

 

 

 

Would any system performing the calculations performed by the brain be capable of consciousness? Machine functionalism implies Yes. Some see this as a decisive objection.

Teleological functionalism evades this problem. For it, phenomenal experience is identified with the biological function being performed at the relevant subroutine of the program, so that unless the alternative to my brain was a structure that was organized very similarly to mine, there would be no grounds for thinking it would feel as I do.


222 home