---
abstract: "Putnam has argued that computational functionalism cannot serve as a foundation for the study of the mind, as every ordinary open physical system implements every finite-state automaton. I argue that Putnam's argument fails, but that it points out the need for a better understanding of the bridge between the theory of computation and the theory of physical systems: the relation of implementation. It also raises questions about the classes of automata that can serve as a basis for understanding the mind. I develop an account of implementation, linked to an appropriate class of automata, such that the requirement that a system implement a given automaton places a very strong constraint on the system. This clears the way for computation to play a central role in the analysis of mind.  "
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creators_name:
  - family: Chalmers
    given: David J
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
date: 1996
date_type: published
datestamp: 1997-08-29
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dir: disk0/00/00/02/26
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lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:53:44
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rev_number: 8
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status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:25:52
subjects:
  - phil-mind
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title: Does a Rock Implement Every Finite-State Automaton?
type: preprint
userid: 219
volume: ~
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