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From: greg@hwcs.UUCP (Greg Michaelson)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy,net.math
Subject: Re: Mind as Turing Machine
Message-ID: <667@hwcs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 06:34:09 EST
Article-I.D.: hwcs.667
Posted: Tue Oct 29 06:34:09 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 05:30:10 EST
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Organization: Computer Sci., Heriot-Watt U., Scotland
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Xref: watmath net.philosophy:2988 net.math:2457

> There are a number of reasons why I doubt that the mind is in fact like a
> turing machine.
> 
> Lastly, it's certainly clear that we cannot now model even moderately small
> portions of the mind through computers.  I think it is reasonable to ask
> those who wish to assert the turing machine-ness of the mind need to show
> some method by which the mind can be translated into an equivalent turing
> machine, even if this translation is computationally infeasible  (which is
> indeed likely).  Without such an algorithm, I think there is reasonable
> cause not to accept the hypothesis.
> 
> Charley Wingate

We cannot now do X THEREFORE we cannot ever do X
 where X = build a heavier than air flying machine
         = transmute one substance into another
         = model brain behaviour with a computer etc etc etc