Symbol Grounding in Computational Systems: A Paradox of Intentions

The paper presents a paradoxical feature of computational systems that suggests that computationalism cannot explain symbol grounding. If the mind is a digital computer, as computationalism claims, then it can be computing either over meaningful symbols or over meaningless symbols. If it is computing over meaningful symbols its functioning presupposes the existence of meaningful symbols in the system, i.e. it implies semantic nativism. If the mind is computing over meaningless symbols, no intentional cognitive processes are available prior to symbol grounding; therefore no symbol grounding could take place since any such process presupposes intentional processes. So, whether computing in the mind is over meaningless or over meaningful symbols, computationalism implies semantic nativism. Keywords. Computationalism, Fodor, symbol grounding, meaningless computation, Putnam, semantic nativism

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: WSPI
• Authors: Vincent C. Müller
• Keywords: Information Technology, Meaningful Symbols, Semantic Nativism, Symbol Grounding, WSPI 2008