In this age of technology, the mind is compared to the computer, why the metaphor of a computer is given to the human mind? Is it because it is too complex like a computer processor or is it because of its functions, how they work? The answer is here. It all starts with #Descartes #Substance dualism theory. Descartes says that the human mind is made of two substances- physical stuff and immaterial stuff. Immaterial stuff could not be traced by scientists. This immaterial substance affects the physical stuff of the body. For example, I know something about Substance theory and it leads me to post this on Facebook. Well, the answer to the question of how this immaterial substance causes an effect on physical movement is still unanswered. So, the functional theory suggests that one should look at the functionality of the mind instead of what it is made of.
The mind is a complex thing. It is made of something and what it does is entirely different. Similar to a computer, a computer is made of stuff like metal, other hardware, etc. but what it does; the programming is different than the material it is made of. This is one reason for the metaphor of the computer mind.
Nowadays computer is replacing the human mind. Machines are able to do what the human mind can. Contemporary computer philosophy has some interesting experiments to go through. Alan Turing’s #Turing_test in which, the same questions are asked to humans and computers to distinguish them, Searle’s experiment of the #Chinese_room is the best way to understand how a computer works. How it gets Input and output of the answer.
If you have any idea why the human mind is compared to the computer. Share your thoughts.
Human Mind and Computer both works on set of instructions provided to them. In case of computer these instructions are laid down by someone who is trying to achieve a certain objective in form of an output. In the age of AI the computer can by itself assign task to itself in order to achieve a certain output desired by its operator. Whereas in case of Humans these instructions are taken through various levels of layered processes. I'll come to the layers later but first, these instructions are gathered either voluntarily or involuntarily in form of a process to achieve a certain goal or acquire learning on any kind of subject or object. But in case of the Humans the role of Observer and Object becomes crucial.
ReplyDeleteUpon acquiring certain learning the Human (Now a days computers too) start building upon it. So basically something is stored in the memory and in humans this memory can trigger emotions or reactions ignorer to make a decision to the stimulus of the surrounding.
Now about the layers I talked about earlier can be regarded as different layers of the memory viz. Prarabdha Karma, Sachit Karma and Sankaras acquired within this lifetime and passed on from the previous births acts as set of instructions (many a times habits/nature/action or reactions of a person) towards behaviour of a person in any environment.
So Human mind (if we are not limiting it to the brain) carries sets of vivid types of memories just like a modern day computer or Connected computing infrastructure stores it's data in form of memory at Data centers where appropriate material substance is available to store immaterial memory.
In This way one might be able to compare human mind with a so called computer.
P.S: The so called immaterial substance mentioned by Descartes might be the vibrations and if given more attention material substance and immaterial substance in form of vibrations are no different if De-Broglie's Quantum Theory is taken into consideration for interpretation purpose.
Thanking You.