Minds and Computers : An Introduction to the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence

generative grammar
a formal system for ruling on the grammatical-
ity of strings of a language.
Gödel coding
a method involving the exponentiation of prime
numbers which facilitates reference to elements of formal systems
from within the system.
heuristic (function)
informally, a method for guiding to a solution.
Formally, heuristic functions assign a value to states of a
formal system representing the closeness of that state to some goal
state.
heuristic search
a search method which is informed by a heuristic
function.
homonym
a homophone where multiple semantic interpretations
also share an orthographic representation – ‘bank’ and ‘bank’.
homophone
a sequence of phonemes which admits of more than
one semantic interpretation – ‘bred’ and ‘bread’.
identity theory (of mind)
another name for Australian/reductive/
central state materialism.
i
ff if and only if.
induction
the form of inference characteristic of the empirical sci-
ences, such that the truth of the premises lends support to the con-
clusion but does not guarantee it.
intentionality
a technical philosophical term for the property of
mental states such that they represent something or are about some-
thing.
inter alia
among other things.
ipso facto
by that very fact.
isomorphism
an isomorphism from one formal system to another is
a structure-preserving uniform substitution of elements of the
system such that all formal properties are thereby preserved.
knowledge argument
an argument, drawn from a thought experi-
ment, which seeks to show that a complete physical explanation of
mentality does not constitute a complete explanation.