Some philosophers, including John Searle, say that
computers are not really intelligent. Rather, they just simulate intelligence.
However, it could be argued that, just as computers are programmed to respond
in different ways to different commands, so human beings are 'programmed' by
society, and education, to perform certain tasks. For example, we are
programmed to do complicated things like speak a language, as well as more
simply things like brush our teeth.
What are your thoughts on this comparison? Is there
any difference between the programming of computers, and the 'programming' of
humans by society?
I think there
are many similarities as well as differences between the computer programing
and human programing by society. There is no argument that computers and humans
are developed through different programs. For example, when I think of computer
programing my initial though is programs and coding. Its developed by commands
and instructions that can later be
compiled and/or interpreted and then inherently transformed to an executable
that an electronic machine can execute or "run". The difference
between the programming of computers and the "programming" of humans
by society are a person's emotions that play a distinct role in contributing to
their intelligence. the mental state and its functional role. For example, the
state of pain is caused by sitting on a tack and causes loud cries, and higher order
mental states of anger and resentment directed at the careless person who left
a tack lying around. I don’t believe computers and artificial
intelligence have the capabilities to exhibit any emotions or values at all. However, it could be programmed to react. Lastly when it
comes to human beings I can agree that we are programmed by society in
different ways but what separates the computer programing from human programing
is that what’s programmed in humans can’t necessarily be transferred to another
human. IE; personality, beliefs, habits. In the world of computing a particular
program can run on any machine.

