Quote by John Searle

We often attribute 'understanding' and other cognitive predicates by metaphor and analogy to cars, adding machines, and other artifacts, but nothing is proved by such attributions.


We often attribute 'understanding' and other cognitive predi

Summary

This quote suggests that our tendency to ascribe qualities like understanding or intelligence to inanimate objects such as cars or machines is fundamentally flawed. The speaker argues that using metaphors and analogies to attribute these cognitive processes to non-living things does not provide any solid evidence for such claims. This assertion challenges the validity of drawing conclusions about complex mental abilities by comparing them to mechanical or artificial constructs.

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Car
By John Searle
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