---
title: "What Enables a Machine to Understand?"
authors:
  - "Aaron Sloman"
doi: ""
url: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1985/200"
pdf: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1985/0200.pdf"
venue: "Proceedings of the Ninth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence"
year: 1985
pages: "995-1000"
track: "Philosophical Foundations"
keywords:
---

# What Enables a Machine to Understand?

Aaron Sloman

*Proceedings of the Ninth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence*, pages 995-1000.

## Abstract

The 'Strong Al' claim that suitably programmed computers can manipulate symbols that THEY understand is defended, and conditions for understanding discussed. Even computers without Al programs exhibit a significant subset of characteristics of human understanding. To argue about whether machines can REALLY understand is to argue about mere definitional matters. But there is a residual ethical question.