Conceptual Limits of the Basic Strategies for Understanding the Nature of Artificial Intelligence: Through the Prism of Imaginary Experiments
INFORMATION AND LAW May 26, 2026 O. Dzioban, M. Zhushman
This article offers a socio-philosophical analysis of major directions in the philosophy of artificial intelligence, including physicalism, functionalism, and cognitive pluralism. The authors examine thought experiments such as "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?", "Chinese Room", "Swampman", "Chinese Nation", and "Philosophical Zombies" to illustrate limitations of reductionist approaches to consciousness. They focus on the problem of "qualia" and the fundamental distinction between syntax and semantics in AI operations. The paper argues for a transition to a transdisciplinary paradigm combining natural science and socio-humanitarian knowledge to understand intelligence and prospects for creating "strong" AI.