I will argue that in the literal sense the programmed computer unders… — John Searle

I will argue that in the literal sense the programmed computer understands what the car and the adding machine understand, namely, exactly nothing.

John SearlePhilosopher · American · b. 1932

More from John Searle

My car and my adding machine understand nothing: they are not in that line of business. — John Searle
Berkeley had a liberal element in the student body who tended to be quite active. I think that's in general a feature of intellectually active places. — John Searle
In many cases it is a matter for decision and not a simple matter of fact whether x understands y; and so on. — John Searle
Where conscious subjectivity is concerned, there is no distinction between the observation and the thing observed. — John Searle
Whatever is referred to must exist. Let us call this the axiom of existence. — John Searle
Where questions of style and exposition are concerned I try to follow a simple maxim: if you can't say it clearly you don't understand it yourself. — John Searle