Spiritual Evidence Map
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Philosophy referenceprimarycontextVerified

The Chinese Room Argument

David Cole · 2024 · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Spiritual Evidence Map/Last updated May 10, 2026/Claims v1.0.0-provisional/Sources v1.0.0/Scores provisional
Citation dossier

This source is used as context evidence across 1 linked claim and 3 related evidence hubs. Its citation record is marked verified; that verifies the source trail, not the truth of any linked claim.

Source type
Philosophy reference
Map role
context
Claim links
1
Direct access
Recorded

Summary

Searle's famous argument that symbol manipulation alone cannot produce understanding, and the major replies.

How this source is used on the map

The standard sceptical argument against AI consciousness; required reading for any serious treatment.

Citation record

Authors
David Cole
Year
2024
Publication
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Source type
Philosophy reference
Map role
context
Credibility level
primary
Citation status
Verified
DOI
Not recorded
PubMed
Not recorded
PDF
Not recorded
Original source →

Linked claims

Evidence score 3/10
AI systems can be conscious

Behaviour is not evidence of inner experience. We have no detector for consciousness in any system we did not already believe to be conscious.

Related evidence hubs

Topic hub
Consciousness & Mind

What consciousness is, how it relates to brains, and whether it's basic to reality.

Evidence pillar
Consciousness

The nature of subjective experience.

Evidence pillar
Philosophy of mind

Mind–brain relation, qualia, intentionality.

Related sources

Philosophy reference · context
Functionalism

Functionalism is the implicit metaphysics behind the case that AI could be conscious.

Philosophy reference · context
Other Minds

Use this as the philosophical background for solipsism and for disputed minds in non-human or artificial systems. It is context, not direct evidence that any specific entity is conscious.

Philosophy reference · context
Consciousness

Pulls together the conceptual frameworks behind every empirical claim about consciousness.