The Chinese Room Argument Against Artificial Intelligence

The Chinese Room is a refutation of the theory that computers can think and mental processes are just interactions between software and hardware.  ‘Strong A.I. (Mind, Brains and Science, Searle, 28)’ as termed by John Searle, is the contemporary explanation of the human mental processes.  It is a prevalent view amongst many computer scientists such as Herbert Simon and Alan Newell.  Even the Turing Test is arguably there to provide an attainable benchmark for true artificial intelligence.  However, the argument presented in the Chinese Room example has raised the benchmark for strong A.I. to a level of implausibility.  Indeed, it creates a ceiling which digital computers and their algorithmic processes will never be able to break through.  Computers as defined by the interaction of programs and hardware are shown to be insufficient for the process of thinking.