Perhaps, non-conscious information processing can perform all processes needed for survival and all processes performed by consciousness {computational functionalism} {conscious inessentialism} {computational theory} {computational hypothesis}.
symbols
Symbol manipulation causes thoughts. Symbols represent high-level concepts and directly relate to knowledge structures. Symbols are either present or absent. Symbols in combination make propositions. Computational manipulations follow language syntax. Syntax and symbol meaning can give overall meaning.
computers
Computers are general symbol manipulators. If symbol manipulation can cause thoughts, computers can think like people.
experience
However, symbols cannot represent images, tastes, sounds, touch, and smell. Symbols are either present or absent and do not have magnitude or certainty. Symbols have no partial effects or gradations {brittleness, function symbol}. Symbols do not have meaningful parts or units. They do not have formation or development process. Symbols do not receive more certainty by repetition or conjunction. Statistical processes do not affect symbol meaning or relations. Small symbol changes typically greatly change meaning or accuracy.
Symbols can be complex wholes, whose meanings depend on pattern parts. Sense qualities combine fundamental features, and similar sense qualities have similar combinations.
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Date Modified: 2022.0224