title: Some neural networks compute, others don't.
abstract: I address whether neural networks perform computations in the sense of computability theory and computer science. I explicate and defend the following theses. (1) Many neural networks compute--they perform computations. (2) Some neural networks compute in a classical way. Ordinary digital computers, which are very large networks of logic gates, belong in this class of neural networks. (3) Other neural networks compute in a non-classical way. (4) Yet other neural networks do not perform computations. Brains may well fall into this last class.
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121-4400, USA.
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccinini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003202:Computers, Analog; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*