I'll try again... Can you (or anyone) define "thought" in way that is helpful?
Some other intelligent social animals have slightly different brains, and it seems very likely they "think" as well. Do we want to define "thinking" in some relative manner?
Say you pick a definition requiring an isomorphism to thoughts as generated by a human brain. Then, by definition, you can't have thoughts unless you prove the isomorphism. How are you going to do that? Inspection? In theory, some suitable emulation of a brain is needed. You might get close with whole-brain emulation. But how do you know when your emulation is good enough? What level of detail is sufficient?
What kinds of definitions of "thought" remains?
Perhaps something related to consciousness? Where is this kind of definition going to get us? Talking about consciousness is hard.
Anil Seth (and others) talks about consciousness better than most, for what it is worth -- he does it by getting more detailed and specific. See also: integrated information theory.
By writing at some length, I hope to show that using loose sketches of concepts using words such as "thoughts" or "thinking" doesn't advance a substantive conversation. More depth is needed.
Meta: To advance the conversation, it takes time to elaborate and engage. It isn't easy. An easier way out is pressing the down triangle, but that is too often meager and fleeting protection for a brittle ego and/or a fixated level of understanding.
Some other intelligent social animals have slightly different brains, and it seems very likely they "think" as well. Do we want to define "thinking" in some relative manner?
Say you pick a definition requiring an isomorphism to thoughts as generated by a human brain. Then, by definition, you can't have thoughts unless you prove the isomorphism. How are you going to do that? Inspection? In theory, some suitable emulation of a brain is needed. You might get close with whole-brain emulation. But how do you know when your emulation is good enough? What level of detail is sufficient?
What kinds of definitions of "thought" remains?
Perhaps something related to consciousness? Where is this kind of definition going to get us? Talking about consciousness is hard.
Anil Seth (and others) talks about consciousness better than most, for what it is worth -- he does it by getting more detailed and specific. See also: integrated information theory.
By writing at some length, I hope to show that using loose sketches of concepts using words such as "thoughts" or "thinking" doesn't advance a substantive conversation. More depth is needed.
Meta: To advance the conversation, it takes time to elaborate and engage. It isn't easy. An easier way out is pressing the down triangle, but that is too often meager and fleeting protection for a brittle ego and/or a fixated level of understanding.