Computational externalism : the semantic picture of implementation
The property of being the realization of a computational structure has been argued to be observer-relative. After contrasting the problematic individuation of states in computational systems with the unproblematic individuation of states in dynamical systems, a general diagnosis of the problem is put forward. It is argued that the unwanted proliferation of models for the relation of implementation cannot be blocked unless the labelling scheme is restricted to semantically evaluated items. The instantiation of mathematical dynamical systems, by contrast, is showed to be immune to analogous skeptical arguments due to the virtuous role of measurements in grounding the relevant abstractions. Naturalized semantic properties are proposed to serve as a surrogate for measurements in grounding the relevant abstractions from the physical to the computational level of description, thus making implementations objective. It is argued that a view of implementation that abandons the pervasive internalist view in favor of a view of implementation according to which inputs and outputs are individuated by their broad semantic properties allows us to accept the validity of observer-relativity arguments while preserving the satisfaction
Boccardi, Emiliano
Computational externalism : the semantic picture of implementation. The property of being the realization of a computational structure has been argued to be observer-relative. After contrasting the problematic individuation of states in computational systems with the unproblematic individuation of states in dynamical systems, a general diagnosis of the problem is put forward. It is argued that the unwanted proliferation of models for the relation of implementation cannot be blocked unless the labelling scheme is restricted to semantically evaluated items. The instantiation of mathematical dynamical systems, by contrast, is showed to be immune to analogous skeptical arguments due to the virtuous role of measurements in grounding the relevant abstractions. Naturalized semantic properties are proposed to serve as a surrogate for measurements in grounding the relevant abstractions from the physical to the computational level of description, thus making implementations objective. It is argued that a view of implementation that abandons the pervasive internalist view in favor of a view of implementation according to which inputs and outputs are individuated by their broad semantic properties allows us to accept the validity of observer-relativity arguments while preserving the satisfaction
computational externalism semantic picture implementation property realization computational structure argue observer relative contrast problematic individuation state computational_system unproblematic individuation state dynamical system general diagnosis problem put_forward argued unwanted proliferation model relation implementation block unless label scheme restrict semantically evaluated item instantiation mathematical dynamical system contrast show immune analogous argument due virtuous role measurement ground relevant abstraction semantic_property propose serve measurement ground relevant abstraction physical computational level description thus make implementation objective argue view implementation abandon pervasive internalist view favor view implementation accord input individuate broad semantic_property allow accept validity observer relativity argument preserve satisfaction