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About this quote

What does it mean?
Understanding the mind via computer analogy will ultimately be seen as wasted effort.
In plain terms
Trying to explain minds like computers is a big waste of time.
What can you take from it?
Computational models may fail to capture human consciousness.

Where it applies

  • AI research
  • cognitive science

Putting it to work

  • look beyond computation
  • explore alternative models

Questions to consider

  • What makes human thought unique?

Another view

Computer models are still productive in some areas.

More from Thomas Nagel

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  3. I believe that there is a necessary connection in both directions between the physical and the mental, but that it cannot be discovered a priori. Opinion is st…

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