One may program a computer to answer multiplication questions. One may program a computer to respond to different stimuli. One may program a computer to exchange information with other computers. Perhaps, one day, computers will even be programmed to behave just as humans. One can even 'tell' a computer that it exists, thus making it (technically) self-aware. However, is the computer conscious?

I see very clearly how almost all of human behavior is controlled by the central nervous system. I can even see that emotions are controlled by the nervous system, being necessary for human survival (fear, love etc). But I do not think that it is possible to prove that consciousness is 'just the brain.'

I think consciousness is more than being self-aware. I don't think a computer programmed to behave like a human would spend vast quantities of time thinking about thinking, wondering if it exists or why it exists. Therefore, though one may show that most human behavior is controlled by the central nervous system, I think it is impossible to show that such a thing is true for consciousness.

Nice way to pose the question. Maybe a computer "told" it exists wouldn't spend "vast quantities of time thinking about thinking", but how about a computer created so it works the same way as the human brain Maybe that's a natural (desireable?) consequence of how the brain works? PG