Computadores e mentes: uma analogia filosófica

Abstract

The present paper offers a bibliographic review of one of the most important and controversial articles in the field of Computer Science, "Computers and Intelligence" (original title: Computing Machinery and Intelligence). The text was written in 1950 by one of the greatest mathematical geniuses who later revolutionized the world, Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954). Turing’s excellent scientific work contributed significantly to the development of the digital computer and also gave rise to the first steps in the studies on Artificial Intelligence. The paper investigates the reasons that led Turing to write the article, highlights the main contributions of the article to various fields of knowledge, and provides a critical analysis of Turing’s answer to the question "Can a machine think?". My analysis reveals that Turing’s article can be divided into three parts: (i) the game of Imitation and the digital computer; (ii) philosophical objections and finally (iii) learning machines. Inquiries on these questions justified the development of the research in the uniformization and understanding of key issues in the Philosophy of the Mind. These inquiries reflect the opposing interests of AI researchers, as the answers to these questions depend on how "intelligence" or "consciousness" is defined and what exactly are the "machines" under discussion. For a better understanding of the subject, the arguments of Turing, John Searle, and other thinkers will be used.