Comment by IanCal

You seem confused as to what I’ve said. I know these things cannot exist in reality.

The Chinese room is setup so that you cannot tell the difference from the outside. That’s the point of it.

> If you can’t distinguish between two things, it doesn’t mean the things are the same.

But it does mean that the differences between them are irrelevant to you by definition.

> Ability to understand, self-awareness and consciousness are things we currently cannot measure. You can either say “these things don’t exist”

Unless you have a way they could be measured but we just lack the technology or skill then your definitions are of things that may as well not exist because you cannot define them. They are vague words you use and are fine if you accept you have three major categories “yes and here’s why, no and here’s why and no idea” that’s fine. I am happy saying I’m conscious and the pillow next to me is not. I don’t have a definition clear enough to say yes/no if the pillow was arguing with me.