NDLI: Symbol Grounding in Computational Systems: A Paradox of Intentions

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Müller, Vincent C.
Copyright Year	2009
Abstract	The paper presents a paradoxical feature of computational systems that suggests that computationalism cannot explain symbol grounding. If the mind is a digital computer, as computationalism claims, then it can be computing either over meaningful symbols or over meaningless symbols. If it is computing over meaningful symbols its functioning presupposes the existence of meaningful symbols in the system, i.e. it implies semantic nativism. If the mind is computing over meaningless symbols, no intentional cognitive processes are available prior to symbol grounding. In this case, no symbol grounding could take place since any grounding presupposes intentional cognitive processes. So, whether computing in the mind is over meaningless or over meaningful symbols, computationalism implies semantic nativism.
Starting Page	529
Ending Page	541
Page Count	13
File Format	PDF
ISSN	09246495
Journal	Minds and Machines
Volume Number	19
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	15728641
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2009-12-02
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Artificial intelligence Computationalism Fodor Putnam Semantic nativism Symbol grounding Syntactic computation Systems Theory, Control Interdisciplinary Studies Philosophy of Mind Artificial Intelligence (incl. Robotics)
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Philosophy Artificial Intelligence

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Symbol Grounding in Computational Systems: A Paradox of Intentions