Quote:
Originally Posted by jeff_wilson
In what sense? They lack literal vocalization of course, but if they lack English comprehension and expression, where else do those arise in you?
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From the interaction of the brain cells, not one of which understands English by itself. And from the interaction of all the cells with my sense organs and the muscles of my vocal tract.
Which is parallel to the interaction of the clerk and the reference book and the pieces of paper with hanzi written on them, from which the Chinese room's understanding of Chinese arises.
Though I don't think the task that Searle describes the room as performing would count as "understanding Chinese" if a human being did it, either.