---
title: "The Limits of Computer Intelligence IV"
type: "article"
slug: "the-limits-of-computer-intelligence-iv"
url: "http://localhost/article/the-limits-of-computer-intelligence-iv/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/the-limits-of-computer-intelligence-iv.md"
published_at: "2026-03-12T16:44:15+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-12T16:46:12+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "Fourth and final installment. Argues that brain simulation is impractical due to complexity theory (combinatorial explosion). Conclusion 2: simulating the thought process is more tractable than simulating neurons. Traces human cognitive development from birth — senses, pleasure/pain center, cause/effect experience forming concepts — to show that all higher cognition (language, abstraction, scientific reasoning, insight) arises…"
category:
  - name: "SMUG Bytes"
    slug: "smug-bytes"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/smug-bytes/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Editorial"
    slug: "editorial"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/editorial/"
indiv:
  - name: "Lloyd Dreger"
    slug: "lloyd-dreger"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/lloyd-dreger/"
publication_r:
  id: 37935
  title: "SMUG Bytes"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/smug-bytes/"
authors_r:
  - name: "Lloyd Dreger"
    slug: "lloyd-dreger"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/lloyd-dreger/"
volume: "7"
issue: "12"
issues_articles:
  - id: 50223
    title: "SMUG Bytes v7 n12"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/smug-bytes-v7-n12/"
pages: "1"
pubdate: "December 1990"
archive_link: false
---

Fourth and final installment. Argues that brain simulation is impractical due to complexity theory (combinatorial explosion). Conclusion 2: simulating the thought process is more tractable than simulating neurons. Traces human cognitive development from birth — senses, pleasure/pain center, cause/effect experience forming concepts — to show that all higher cognition (language, abstraction, scientific reasoning, insight) arises from associating experiences with feelings. Demonstrates why LISP/PROLOG keyword attributes cannot substitute for experience-based meaning. Analyzes scientific problem-solving (Archimedes, Einstein’s thought experiments, reductio ad absurdum) as requiring genuine concept manipulation. Concludes that a truly thinking computer would require a pleasure/pain center and soft-logic associative mechanisms. Includes bibliography: Searle, Churchland, Penrose, Changeux, George.