# Computational Theory **Entity class:** Cognitive-science concept **Collections:** [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] · [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]] ## Definition **Computational Theory** describes cognition through information-processing structures, representations, transformations, and causal procedures. It leaves that every implementation with equivalent outputs has equivalent experience unresolved. ## Relationships - It is related to [[wiki/Functionalism|Functionalism]], [[wiki/Substrate Independence|Substrate Independence]], and [[wiki/Executable Brain Model|Executable Brain Model]]. - [[wiki/State Sufficiency Problem|State Sufficiency Problem]] asks which computational and non-computational state variables must be retained for reconstruction. - The distinction is applied in [[articles/Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer|Technologies for Consciousness Mapping and Transfer]]. ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > "AI people try to build models of the parts we do understand." > **— Roger Schank**, *2015, Edge annual question “What Do You Think About Machines That Think?”* [[reminders/Machine Succession/AI Models Only the Parts of Thought We Understand by Roger Schank|AI Models Only the Parts of Thought We Understand by Roger Schank]] > "Computation is still the best, indeed the only, scientific explanation we have of how a physical object like a brain can act intelligently." > **— Alison Gopnik**, *2015, Edge annual question “What Do You Think About Machines That Think?”* [[reminders/Information/Computation Is Our Best Explanation of Intelligent Brains by Alison Gopnik|Computation Is Our Best Explanation of Intelligent Brains by Alison Gopnik]] > "I suspect that digital computers, too, may eventually start to think, but only by growing up to become analog computers, first." > **— George Dyson**, *2015, Edge annual question “What Do You Think About Machines That Think?”* [[reminders/Machine Succession/Digital Computers May Need to Become Analog to Think by George Dyson|Digital Computers May Need to Become Analog to Think by George Dyson]] > "Now we are told that an exascale supercomputer will be able to solve the mysteries of the human brain." > **— Seth Lloyd**, *2015, Edge annual question “What Do You Think About Machines That Think?”* [[reminders/Machine Succession/Exascale Computing May Confront the Human Brain by Seth Lloyd|Exascale Computing May Confront the Human Brain by Seth Lloyd]] > "We can step up to immaterial science, then make an immaterial thinkable machine by starting a very simple manual to program." > **— Koo Jeong A**, *2015, Edge annual question “What Do You Think About Machines That Think?”* [[reminders/Machine Succession/Immaterial Science Could Build a Thinking Machine by Koo Jeong A|Immaterial Science Could Build a Thinking Machine by Koo Jeong A]] > "Sorting is the sort of thing digital computers do. Now imagine sorting a bigger & bigger & bigger deck; can you see consciousness emerging at some point, when you sort a large enough batch? Nope. (And the inevitable answer to the inevitable first objection: but neurons only do simple signal transmission; can you imagine consciousness emerging out of that? An irrelevant question. The fact that lots of neurons make a mind has no bearing on the question of whether lots of anything else make a mind. I can't imagine being a neuron, but I can imagine executing machine instructions. No mind emerges no matter how many of those instructions I carry out.)" > **— David Gelernter**, *2012, Edge Annual Question, “What Is Your Favorite Deep, Elegant, or Beautiful Explanation?”* [[reminders/Consciousness/Software Alone Cannot Make a Mind by David Gelernter|Software Alone Cannot Make a Mind by David Gelernter]] > “When the Turing-machine that describes the mind of intelligent agent has been specified, there is nothing more to say about that mind, apart from how it is implemented in hardware.” > **— Dylan Evans**, *2004 Edge Annual Question, response passage* [[reminders/Mind Upload/Once the Mind Is Specified Only Its Hardware Remains by Dylan Evans|Once the Mind Is Specified Only Its Hardware Remains by Dylan Evans]]