"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim"
- Edsger Dijkstra
About this Quote
This quote by Edsger Dijkstra is a contrast between the abilities of computers and submarines. He is suggesting that the question of whether a computer system can believe is no more intriguing than the concern of whether a submarine can swim. This comparison indicates that both computers and submarines are limited in their capabilities which the question of whether they can believe or swim is not particularly interesting. Dijkstra is recommending that the abilities of computers and submarines are minimal and that the concern of whether they can think or swim is not especially intriguing. He is suggesting that the capabilities of computer systems and submarines are not as crucial as the capabilities of human beings. He is suggesting that the capabilities of humans are much more interesting and crucial than the abilities of computer systems and submarines. He is suggesting that the capabilities of human beings are far more crucial than the capabilities of computer systems and submarines which the concern of whether they can believe or swim is not particularly intriguing.
"On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question"
