The purpose of Searle's Chinese Room experiment was to demonstrate that:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Searle's Chinese Room experiment aimed to show that computers can manipulate symbols according to rules without actually understanding the meaning of those symbols. This implies that computers have syntax (the rules for manipulating symbols) but not semantics (the ability to truly understand the meaning of those symbols). Therefore, the best choice is D, as it accurately summarizes the main points of the experiment. Option A is too narrow since it only reflects part of the conclusion, while option B is too broad, reflecting the opposite of Searle's argument. Option C reflects one of the key ideas, but it doesn't fully capture the implications of the experiment.

The Purpose of Searle's Chinese Room Experiment Was to Demonstrate