Why Computers don’t think?

Searle and the Artificial Intelligence

Robinson dos Santos (Professor, Federal University of Pelotas) 

Philosophy begins with a sense of mystery and

wonder at what any sane person regards 

as too obvious to worry about. (John Searle)

When we state the question about the possibility that machines like computers can think - a question that is not new - we are already moving (also) into the area of ​​philosophical inquiry. On philosopher's view, the first task of all would be, to clarify what kind of activity is something like thinking. In this paper, I intend to approach the question of artificial intelligence, from the perspective presented by the contemporary philosopher John Searle (*1932), who devoted a part of his investigations to this theme. I concentrate the scope of the text around two topics that I consider basic in Searle's argumentation and, therefore, strategic to understand his position: I’m referring to one aspect linked to the question of language and another related to the philosophy of mind. 

Key words：Artificial Intelligence, Searle, Semantics, Intentionality, Computers