Hofstadter, Dennett - The Mind's I

4A.M. TURINGComputing MachineryAnd IntelligenceThe Imitation GameI propose to consider the question “Can machines think?”This should begin with definitions of the terms “machine” and“think.” The definitions might be framed so as to reflect as faras possible the normal use of the words, but this attitude isdangerous. If the meaning of the words “machine” and “think” areto be found by examining how they are commonly used it isdifficult to escape the conclusion that the meaning an dtheanswer to the question “Can machines think?” is to be sought ina statistical survey such as a Gallop poll. But this is absurd.Instead of attempting such a definition I shall replace thequestion by another, which is closely related to it, and isexpressed in relatively unambiguous words.The new form of the problem can be described in terms of agame which we call the “imitation game.” It is played with threepeople, a man (A), a woman (B), and an interrogator (C) who maybe of either sex. The interrogator stays in a room apart fromthe other two. The object of the game for the interrogator is todetermine which of the other two isExcerpt from “Computing Machines and Intelligence.” Mind, Vol. LIX.No. 236 1950). Reprinted by permission.