Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!husc6!rice!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!bcsaic!ray
From: ray@bcsaic.UUCP (Ray Allis)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Question on Chinese Room Argument
Keywords: chinese room simulation
Message-ID: <10992@bcsaic.UUCP>
Date: 29 Mar 89 06:38:09 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services-Commercial Airplane Support
Lines: 32


> From: dan-hankins@cup.portal.com (Daniel B Hankins)
>
>      There are two issues here:  whether understanding is in fact a
> physical property like magnetism, and whether the anti-simulation argument
> (hereafter referred to as ASA) is valid.

[ ... ]

>      I can summarize my reply to the ASA in one sentence:  "A difference
> that makes no difference _is_ no difference.".
>
>      The ASA is characterized by sentences like the following:  "A
> simulated magnet attracts no iron.".
>
>      This may be true, but it is irrelevant;  I will show by means of a
> gedanken experiment that in certain circumstances (the _only_ ones relevant
> to the discussion at hand) a simulated magnet does indeed attract iron.

Such a deal I have for you!

Your dinner entree for tonight is digital computer simulation of filet
mignon!  It includes simulated baked potato, simulated tossed salad with
simulated vinegar, oil and Italian spices.  Your steak simulation includes
five significant digits of heat, aroma and sizzle.  And I suggest a superb
simulation of a vintage Port.  This requires several minutes on a Cray X-MP,
and is really exquisite, including detailed molecular-level simulation of
over three hundred organic aromatic compounds!

Bon appetit!

Ray Allis     ray@atc.boeing.com    bcsaic!ray