Cognitive Science, Fall 2002

Problem Set 1, Due: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002

Write a brief (~1-page) essay in answer to each of the following questions.

1. Discuss the nature of the concept of "memory" in Plato's Meno. In particular, in what ways do the dialogue between Socrates and the slave boy illustrate (or fail to illustrate) what you regard as a definition of memory?

2. In Turing's paper, the "Turing test" is employed as an operational test of intelligence. Discuss the merits (or flaws) of this test as a working definition for machine intelligence.

3. Searle's paper "Minds, Brains, and Programs" presents a "Chinese Room" argument against the possibility of "strong" AI. Which (if any) of the styles of counterargument described in his paper might have any merit in your opinion, and why? (If you don't feel that any of the counterarguments hold water, then discuss the one that you still think most provocative.)