Against the Chinese Room Argument

Abstract

The Chinese Room Argument is a reductio ad absurdem argument, intended to show that a contradiction follows from the principles of the theory of computer functionalism. If a contradiction follows from these principles, then the Chinese Room Argument is a good argument. This thesis argues that the Chinese Room Argument is invalid; that it does not demonstrate a contradiction, and, therefore, is a bad argument against computer functionalism. The argument of this thesis is made in four chapters. (1) An analysis of the concepts employed in the original presentation of the Chinese Room Argument. (2) An analysis of the principles of computation addressed by the Chinese Room Argument. (3) An analysis of category mistakes made in philosophies of mind. (4) An argument that the category mistakes enumerated in (3) occur when the concepts in (1) are not properly applied to the principles in (2).