• Codex@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I figured he was talking about Searle’s Chinese room thought experiment. Searle sucks though, so that’s probably also racist (in addition to being stupid.)

    • Sailor Sega Saturn@awful.systems
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      2 months ago

      In 2024 it is, at the very least, extremely uncomfortable to read Searle describe Chinese writing as “meaningless scribbles”, “formal symbols”*, “squiggle squiggle”, and “squoggle squoggle”. Basically taking Chinese, ignoring the fact that it’s a real language used by real people and is not alien nor inscrutable nor mathematical, and using it as a prop to purposefully obfuscate a thought experiment.

      But that’s like, just my opinion man.

      * The paper never seems to get around to calling English letters symbols I wonder why.

    • pyre@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      the reason to pick Chinese may be racist (possibly due to the writing system looking complicated) but the thought experiment itself doesn’t have racist connotations imo, and i don’t think it’s stupid either. doesn’t have to involve Chinese or a specific language at all.

      it’s a logical question to ask: if i can mimic speaking in a language to a point that it convinces native speakers, but don’t understand what I’m saying myself, am I considered a genuine speaker of that language? does what i say matter or have any value?

      • froztbyte@awful.systems
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        2 months ago

        well it appears like you’re posting english, but actually you’re posting nonsense

        so the answer to your question is no

      • swlabr@awful.systems
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        2 months ago

        Scientists: weird, we didn’t slip this piece of paper saying “mansplain the chinese room thought experiment” through the door, and yet that’s all the room seems to want to do. I guess we just have to conclude the room is an idiot?

        • pyre@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          what an unnecessarily aggressive comment. mansplain? am i even responding to a woman? also i wasn’t trying to explain it; i was saying the central question doesn’t have to involve a specific language at all and it still a worthy question, especially with all this AI bullshit being pushed all over.