Is the Brain a Machine?
The Foresight Cognitive Systems Project held a public debate at the BA Science Festival on 10th Sept 2002 on the subject 'is the brain a machine?'
The debate was introduced by Lord Sainsbury, the Minister for Science, and chaired by Prof Colin Blakemore
| Colin Blakemore | Mike Morgan | Simon Laughlin | Dave Cliff |
|---|
 |  |  |  |
Speakers quotes:
"The brain is a device working according to known physical and chemical principles, . it has evolved as has any other organ of the body, . there is no place for spooky stuff."
"Of course the brain is a machine, and it's one without spirit or soul. There is no ghost in the machine. While I'm not sure what type of machine the brain is, I am pretty sure that it is not a computer."
"To accuse someone of having a brain like a computer would raise questions in their mind of whether they are adequately self-aware or caring, in the way that computers - at least as we know them now - tend not to be."
Speakers included:
- Professor Richard Morris ( University of Edinburgh)
- Professor Lionel Tarassenko (University of Oxford)
- Professor Michael Morgan (City University Applied Vision Research Centre)
- Dr Simon Laughlin (Cambridge University)
- Dr Dave Cliff (HP Labs Bristol)