The symbol grounding problem asks how computational symbols acquire meaning. If a computer manipulates symbols according to rules, what connects symbols to what they represent? Unlike humans who learn 'apple' through sensory experience, a computer's symbol 'apple' seems ungrounded—related only to other symbols. Some propose embodied cognition as a solution: meaning emerges through physical interaction with the world, suggesting that disembodied AI may lack genuine understanding.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that
all symbols in computers are already fully grounded through their formal definitions
human learning never involves sensory experience
physical embodiment is irrelevant to cognitive processes
the capacity to manipulate symbols formally may not be sufficient for understanding their meaning
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. Symbol manipulation alone may leave symbols ungrounded.
- Context clues: A computer's symbols seem "ungrounded—related only to other symbols."
- Meaning: Formal manipulation may not constitute genuine understanding.
- Verify: The suggestion that disembodied AI may "lack genuine understanding" confirms this.
đŸ’¡ Strategy: When a formal process is questioned for lacking a key feature (grounding), infer formal processing may be insufficient.
Choice A is incorrect because the whole problem is that computational symbols seem ungrounded. Choice B is incorrect because humans learn through "sensory experience." Choice C is incorrect because embodied cognition proposes physical interaction grounds meaning.