Books, papers and classic texts connected to our essays, paradoxes and thought experiments.
Start with a question, browse a theme or follow a reading route. Our notes explain why a source is worth reading and where its limits lie. We also include work that challenges the ideas we explore.
English reading notes. Original publications in their available languages.
Publication details and links are reproduced from the shared KopKen catalogue. These English notes are AI-assisted editorial adaptations of the Dutch notes, not a new independent review of every full text. Missing bibliographic details are marked as not recorded.
The reading library
A place to start. Room to go further.
208 sources · 9 themes · 20 starting points
20 sources found · page 2 of 2
205 of 208 English notes match this catalogue edition
ArticleStarting point
Searle and the Chinese room
Searle argues that following rules to process symbols is not sufficient, by itself, for understanding.
Why read it?
An original source for asking whether an appropriate answer implies understanding.
Keep in mind
This philosophical argument is contested. It is not an experiment with current language models.
Reference details
Title as recorded:Minds, brains, and programs
Author(s): John R. Searle · Year: 1980
Publication / host: Cambridge University Press (CUP) Source language: English
Read the original source before relying on a specific claim. Our notes distinguish evidence, interpretation and illustration; they do not replace the source. A checked reference or working link is not a scientific quality certificate. Legal texts, historical examples and technical reports may need to be checked against newer versions.
Where a source has been corrected or a position is contested, read the connected response too. Links can lead to a full text, an abstract, a publisher's page or a paywall; access is not guaranteed.
Noticed an error? Contact KopKen and include the source identifier shown in its reference details.