The Limits of Computation
Philosophy Now|February/March 2021
Apostolos Syropoulos goes back to BASICs to consider whether the human brain is a computer.
Apostolos Syropoulos
The Limits of Computation

There is a school of thought that assumes that all intellectual problems can potentially be solved by computers [for example, see ‘The Future of Philosophy is Cyborg’, by Phil Torres in Issue 141]. However, is this really the case? Here I will try to explain why we do not know where the limits of computability are, and how this lack of knowledge affects our understanding in a number of areas.

Roughly, we can say that a computable (or solvable) problem is any problem that can be solved by a finite set of simple actions. Alternatively, we could say that a computable problem is anything that can be reduced to a mathematical equation and solved accordingly. For example, if someone has to travel to a number of towns and has to schedule her trip so that she has to go through each town only once, this is a mathematical problem. One may say that at first this does not look like a mathematical problem; but we can reduce it to, or transform it into, a mathematical problem (in topology). And if the number of towns that our pilgrim has to travel is small enough, then it is relatively easy to compute an answer. But when the number of towns becomes large enough, then it might not be possible to come up with a road map that goes through each town only once.

Esta historia es de la edición February/March 2021 de Philosophy Now.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición February/March 2021 de Philosophy Now.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE PHILOSOPHY NOWVer todo
Anselm (1033-1109)
Philosophy Now

Anselm (1033-1109)

Martin Jenkins recalls the being of the creator of the ontological argument.

time-read
8 minutos  |
October/November 2024
Is Brillo Box an Illustration?
Philosophy Now

Is Brillo Box an Illustration?

Thomas E. Wartenberg uses Warhol's work to illustrate his theory of illustration.

time-read
8 minutos  |
October/November 2024
Why is Freedom So Important To Us?
Philosophy Now

Why is Freedom So Important To Us?

John Shand explains why free will is basic to humanity.

time-read
6 minutos  |
October/November 2024
The Funnel of Righteousness
Philosophy Now

The Funnel of Righteousness

Peter Worley tells us how to be right, righter, rightest.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October/November 2024
We're as Smart as the Universe Gets
Philosophy Now

We're as Smart as the Universe Gets

James Miles argues, among other things, that E.T. will be like Kim Kardashian, and that the real threat of advanced AI has been misunderstood.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October/November 2024
Managing the Mind
Philosophy Now

Managing the Mind

Roger Haines contemplates how we consciously manage our minds.

time-read
9 minutos  |
October/November 2024
lain McGilchrist's Naturalized Metaphysics
Philosophy Now

lain McGilchrist's Naturalized Metaphysics

Rogério Severo looks at the brain to see the world anew.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October/November 2024
Love & Metaphysics
Philosophy Now

Love & Metaphysics

Peter Graarup Westergaard explains why love is never just physical, with the aid of Donald Davidson's anomalous monism.

time-read
6 minutos  |
October/November 2024
Mary Leaves Her Room
Philosophy Now

Mary Leaves Her Room

Nigel Hems asks, does Mary see colours differently outside her room?

time-read
7 minutos  |
October/November 2024
From Birds To Brains
Philosophy Now

From Birds To Brains

Jonathan Moens considers whether emergence can explain minds from brains.

time-read
7 minutos  |
October/November 2024