Yolanda Walker

Machine Functionalism: Brains as Computing Machines

January 1, 2013 Yolanda Walker

Machine functionalism, or the computational theory of mind, holds that the brain is a computational machine analogous to a computer. The authors argue that this view is flawed: computers are inaccurate models for brain states, and consciousness cannot be generated through mechanical means. They contend that while mechanical metaphors for the brain are common in everyday language and science fiction, machine functionalism faces problems including dispositional versus occurrent states, determining identical brain states across individuals, inverted qualia, and the finiteness of machine tables. The gap between syntax and semantics shows that symbol manipulation is insufficient for consciousness. The authors propose that a good theory of mind must allow multiple realizability.