Can a mind be “just” a computer? In this episode, we unpack John Searle’s Chinese Room and the debate it ignited about understanding, meaning, and consciousness. We lay out Searle’s thought experiment in plain language, explore why it challenges the idea that syntax alone yields semantics, and walk through some leading replies.
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Can a mind be “just” a computer? In this episode, we unpack John Searle’s Chinese Room and the debate it ignited about understanding, meaning, and consciousness. We lay out Searle’s thought experiment in plain language, explore why it challenges the idea that syntax alone yields semantics, and walk through some leading replies.
What’s in a name? More than you think. In this week’s episode, we dive into a puzzle that looks simple on the surface but turns out to reshape how we understand language itself. Names don’t just point to things — they carry layers of meaning, shaping how we see the world. Gottlob Frege’s classic insight into sense and reference explains why “J. K. Rowling is Robert Galbraith” was a revelation, while “Rowling is Rowling” is… well, boring. From monarchs and presidents to pen names and pseudonym...
The Thursday Thought Experiment.
Can a mind be “just” a computer? In this episode, we unpack John Searle’s Chinese Room and the debate it ignited about understanding, meaning, and consciousness. We lay out Searle’s thought experiment in plain language, explore why it challenges the idea that syntax alone yields semantics, and walk through some leading replies.
