So, where are we?

• It is arguable that a brain could be made of something other than organic molecules, such as silicon-based integrated circuits.

• There is a strong theoretical argument--exemplified by the Turing Test--that one day we could build a computer that behaves (at least verbally) indistinguishably from a human.

• There is a strong theoretical argument--exemplified by the Chinese Room--that a computer program is incapable of understanding the symbols it manipulates.

Oops, impass might seem to be the answer. However, another approach is to say we do not know enough and should keep working on the question.

In any case, work to date has shown that in trying to relate brain functioning to computer functioning we are learning more and more about brain functioning, so the efforts seem worthwhile in any case.

Check out these projects by students in the course MCDB 3650 (Brain Thought and Action) related to this topic:

• Computer Consciousness
• First Encounters with Conscious Computers
• Neural Networks