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Episode details

Radio 4,14 Nov 1984,30 mins

SeriesJohn Searle - Minds, Brains and Science

Beer Cans & Meat Machines

The Reith Lectures

Available for over a year

In the second Reith Lecture of his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, considers artificial intelligence. He debates whether scientists could create a digital computer which has its own thoughts. In this lecture entitled 'Beer Cans and Meat Machines', Professor Searle compares the relationship of the mind and the brain to that of computer programme software to computer hardware. But can a man-made machine ever think like a human?

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