Book Summaries
Emanuel Derman (What to think about machines that think)
Emanuel Derman argues that machines can’t think because they are material objects designed to function in ways deemed useful by humans or animals.
Emanuel Derman argues that machines can’t think because they are material objects designed to function in ways deemed useful by humans or animals. He references philosopher Stuart Hampshire’s interpretation of Spinoza, stating that one should not mix mental explanations for material phenomena, or vice versa. Derman maintains that as long as a machine’s behavior can be explained materially, it doesn’t think. He leaves room for changing his view if someone convincingly merges the mental and material realms, but until then, he believes machines can’t think.
YARPP List
Related posts:
- Law 17: Seize the Historical Moment (The Laws of Human Nature)
- Part 2: Isolate the Victim (The Art of Seduction)
- Chapter 16: The Capitalist Creed (Sapiens)
- On Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra Summary (8.4/10)
Keep Reading
Related Articles
Book Summaries
Chapter 9: The Arrow of History (Sapiens)
# The Arrow of History The novels by Charles Dickens teach us that the liberal regimes of 19th century Europe gave much importance to individual freedom, even if it meant throwing poor families in prison, and leaving orphans no choice but to join pickpocket schools.
Book Summaries
The Language and Thought of the Child Summary (7/10)
Before Piaget, there was very little work done to understand child psychology. While there has been considerable progress since, there is a large debt of gratitude that psychology owes to him.
Book Summaries
The Top 16 Books about Meditation
1. The Experience of Insight: A Simple & Direct Guide to BuddhistMeditation 2. Altered Traits 3. Wise Heart 4. Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening 5. Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World 6.
Book Summaries
The Birth of Tragedy Summary (8/10)
It’s been two weeks since I’ve started reading Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, and I’m finally finished. It was a dense read, but well worth it for anyone interested in the origins of drama and tragedy.