Position Paper #2:

Is the Brain a Computer?

For this position paper, I would like you to evaluate the following "complex" argument. (It's "complex" because it consists of 3 "sub"arguments, two of which treat the conclusions of previous ones as premises.)

To evaluate this argument, you must determine whether (I) it is valid and whether (II) all the premises are true.

• If both of those conditions hold, then an argument is said to be sound.

• You are logically obligated to believe the conclusions of sound arguments!
  • So, if you ever come across an argument that you think is sound, but whose conclusion you don't believe (by the way, do you really believe line 7 of this argument?), then either one or more of the premises are false or it is invalid [i.e., there is some way for the premises to be true yet for the conclusion to be false].

1. To determine whether the argument is valid, you must suppose (or make believe) "for the sake of the argument" that all the premises are true, and then consider whether the conclusions logically follow from them. (Or: Can you imagine some way the world might be so that the premises are true but the conclusion is false?)
   • Note that there are three conclusions: lines 4, 6, and 7. So, do you agree that conclusion 4 follows logically from premises 1-3, and/or that conclusion 6 follows logically from premise 5 (maybe with the help of some of the earlier premises), and/or that conclusion 7 follows logically from lines 4 and 6 considered as premises? If not, are there missing premises that are needed to make the argument(s) valid? If there are, do you agree with them (why/why not)?

2. It may be too difficult to determine whether each premise is true or false. More realistically, you should decide whether you believe, or agree with, each premise, and you must explain why you do or don't.

Finally, do you agree with the conclusion(s)? If you do, but you think that there's something wrong with the argument, try to present a better one. If you don't agree with the conclusion(s), state why, and try to give an argument for what you do believe.

1. Your position paper should be approximately

   1-2 typed pages, double-spaced (i.e., about 250-500 words), and single-sided.

2. Please bring

   1 copy

   to lecture on the due date and

   4 copies

   to recitation that week.

3. At the top of the first page, please put the following information in the following format:

   Position Paper #2		YOUR NAME
   DATE DUE		CSE (or PHI) 484 (or 584), Monday (or Wednesday)

4. For general assistance with writing (including my preferred method of paper preparation and format, as well as advice on grammar), see my website "How to Write". As before, no abstract is needed for this position paper, but you do need to give full citations to any sources that you cite.