Phil 340

Necessary condition

A condition that must be met for a particular outcome to occur.

Sufficient condition

A condition that, if met, guarantees a particular outcome.

Validity

The property of an argument wherein, if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

Soundness

The property of an argument that is both valid and has true premises.

Difference in degree

Refers to variations in the amount or extent of a particular attribute.

Difference in kind

Refers to variations in the essential characteristics or nature of attributes.

Turing Machine

An abstract mathematical concept that defines computation and algorithms.

The Imitation Game

A test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human.

Can a machine think?

A question exploring the nature of machine intelligence and consciousness.

Turing’s responses to counter arguments

Turing's refutations to objections against the idea of machine intelligence.

The Theological Objection

An argument against machine intelligence based on religious or spiritual beliefs.

The 'Heads in the Sand' Objection

A counterargument suggesting that recognizing machine intelligence implies an uncomfortable truth.

The Argument from Consciousness

The assertion that consciousness is a requisite for true intelligence.

The Arguments from Various Disabilities

Counterarguments citing special human traits that machines cannot replicate.

Lovelace’s Objection

A challenge claiming that machines can only simulate thought, not truly think.

ELIZA

An early natural language processing program that simulated conversation.

The Mind-Body Problem

The philosophical question regarding the relationship between mental states and physical processes.

Reductionist Physicalism

The view that all mental phenomena can be explained by physical processes.

Multiple Realizability

The idea that the same mental state can be realized in different physical systems.

Dualism

The belief that the mind and body are fundamentally different substances.

Phenomenal consciousness

The subjective experience of perception and awareness.

'What is it like to be a bat?'

A thought experiment by Thomas Nagel questioning the nature of consciousness.

3-D movie theatre thought experiment

A conceptual experiment by Kathleen Akins exploring perception and experience.

Qualia

The subjective qualities of conscious experience.

Homunculus

A term used to describe a hypothetical small human-like entity within the mind.

Persisting interlocutor illusion

The illusion that one is having a continuous conversation with an entity.

Perceptual illusions

Discrepancies between perception and reality.

Psychological continuity theory of personal identity

The theory that personal identity is preserved through psychological connections.

Teletransporter thought experiment

A thought experiment exploring identity in the context of teleportation.

Flicker hypothesis

The theory that identity is preserved through quick mental states.

Shoggoth hypothesis

A hypothetical scenario involving the fluid nature of identity and consciousness.

The gaming problem

A challenge in understanding the nature of intelligence in games.

Global workspace hypothesis

The theory that consciousness is a result of information being broadcast in the brain.

Evil Demon thought experiment

Renee Descartes' concept imagining a powerful deceiving entity.

'When I think, I exist'

A fundamental assertion by Rene Descartes establishing existence through thought.

Pineal gland

The small gland in the brain once thought to be the 'seat of the soul'.

Thinking substance vs extended substance

The distinction between the mind as a non-physical entity and the body as a physical entity.

How does the immaterial mind move the material body?

A philosophical question posed by Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia about mind-body interaction.

Embodied Cognition

The view that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the world.