Scott asked:

What is the source of human thought, where does it come from? Biologically caused thought does
not make sense to me, the idea that ultimately a movement of molecules in the nervous system is
what leads to human cognition seems absurd. Does that mean if I move enough objects around, in a
complicated enough fashion that such a system thinks? In such a scenario I could possibly make
musical chairs "think."

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The example I use with my students is a skyscraper thousands, or maybe millions of miles high with
clerks sitting at desks on every floor, writing symbols on pieces of paper and handing them to one
another. Such a system could, in theory, 'run' the program of a human brain, supposing that the
running of a human brain program - on any 'hardware' that will do the job - would be sufficient for
conscious thought. Why does that seem crazy, when the idea of a silicon chip simulation of the
functioning of a human brain inside a mechanical simulation of a human body - an 'android' - seems
not quite so crazy?

Here's a thought experiment. A scientist takes you to his laboratory, carries out a number of tests,
and successfully proves that you are an android. Would you say, 'I know I'm not an android because
android 'brains' are just movements of molecules'? Or 'If I am an android then I know I can't be
thinking'?? - Now, put the thousand mile high skyscraper inside a several thousand mile high
'mechanical simulation of a human body' and you have a very big android.

Geoffrey Klempner