Block's Chinese Nation thought experiment is intended to show that
A) functionalism can account for the mind's qualitative content.
B) a billion Chinese can constitute a mind.
C) functionalism is plausible.
D) functionalism is implausible.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Block's Chinese Nation thought experiment is designed to critique functionalism by suggesting that even if a system (in this case, a billion Chinese people acting as neurons) could replicate the functional processes of a mind, it does not necessarily follow that such a system would have qualitative experiences or consciousness. This challenges the idea that functionalism can fully explain the mind, making it seem implausible.

Block's Chinese Nation Thought Experiment Is Intended to Show That