Chinese Room Debate

Reading: Chinese Room — SEP

1. Team “Searle #1” – The Chinese Room Argument against the PSSH

Your team is setting the stage for the debate. Your task is to develop a clear explanation of the Chinese Room Argument and explain what/how it is arguing in regards to the PSSH. Be sure to review the PSSH in your explanation. Feel free to use information from the encyclopedia (SEP) entry on the Chinese Room as well as other things you find online, or your own thoughts about it.

Your group will present 1^st and you will have ~6 minutes to present.

2.Team “Turing Test”

Your team plays a role in setting the stage for out debate. Your task is to develop a clear explanation of the Turing Test and explain how it relates the Chinese Room Argument. How plausible is the test as a criterion of intelligence? Feel free to use the encyclopedia (SEP) entry on the Chinese Room as well as other things you find online, or your own thoughts about it. You may also consider ELIZA.

Your group will present 2^st and you will have ~6 minutes to present.

3. Team “Systems Reply”

You goal is to formulate a response to the Chinese Room Argument that follows the thinking related to the “Systems Reply”. You can use information from your book as well as any other information you find or philosophize on your own, but try to avoid using anything from the “Robot Reply” in your argument.

You will have 3 minutes to present your initial argument, and then the opposing team will present their initial rebuttal.

After a brief period for both teams to organize their thoughts, you will respond to their rebuttal (so you may want to save some material for that).

4. Team “Searle #2”- Rebuttal to the Systems Reply

You goal is to formulate a rebuttal to the Systems Reply. The book gives you a starting point based on Searle’s generally reply, but you can expand beyond that by using any other information you can find online or philosophize on your own.

You will have 3 minutes to present your initial rebuttal/argument after the other team presents the Systems Reply.

Then, after a brief period for both teams to organize their thoughts, each team will present additional arguments/responses to things that come up in the first round (so you may want to save some material for that).

5. Team “Robot Reply”

You goal is to formulate a response to the Chinese Room Argument that follows the thinking related to the “Robot Reply”. You can use information from your book as well as any other information you find or philosophize on your own, but try to avoid using anything from the “Systems Reply” in your argument.

You will have 3 minutes to present your initial argument, and then the opposing team will present their rebuttal.

After a brief period for both teams to organize their thoughts, you will respond to their rebuttal (so you may want to save some material for that).

6. Team “Searle #3”- Rebuttal to the Robot Reply

You goal is to formulate a rebuttal to the Robot Reply. The book gives you a starting point based on Searle’s generally reply, but you can expand beyond that by using any other information you can find online or philosophize on your own.

You will have 3 minutes to present your initial rebuttal/argument after the other team presents the Robot Reply.

Then, after a brief period for both teams to organize their thoughts, each team will present additional arguments/responses to things that come up in the first round (so you may want to save some material for that).

7. Team “Other Minds Reply”

Your task is to develop a clear explanation of the “other minds” argument and explain how it relates to the Chinese Room problem. Feel free to use information from the SEP entry as well as other things you find online. Your task is to provide a balanced statement of the strengths and weaknesses of the “other minds” argument.

Your group will present last and you will have ~6 minutes to present.

Grading Rubric

Criteria

Information is relevant to group topic (or rebuttal) and comprehensive.

Information is presented in a clear and concise manner.

The relationships between the topics are explained explicitly and correctly, the logical progression between ideas is clear.

Group members present material in a cohesive way (rather than each preparing a topic and taking turns).

Group members answer questions well.

Presentation is the correct length.

Grades

A  All criteria are satisfied.

B  One criteria is not satisfied or two criteria are only marginally satisfied.

C  Two criteria are not satisfied or four criteria are only marginally satisfied.

etc.

Note

In addition, we will consider the results of the peer evaluation.
You will not get credit for the debate if you are not in class when it is held.  If you have an excused absence then an alternative assignment will be made.