Re: “First you say that defining minds is simple, and now you’re pointing back to your own brain’s inbuilt definition in order to support that claim… ”
I am talking about a system with sensory input, motor output and memory/processing. Like in this diagram:
That is nothing specifically to do with human brains—it applies equally well to the “brain” of a washing machine.
Such a description is relatively simple. It could be presented to Martians in a manner so that they could understand it without access to any human brains.
Re: “First you say that defining minds is simple, and now you’re pointing back to your own brain’s inbuilt definition in order to support that claim… ”
I am talking about a system with sensory input, motor output and memory/processing. Like in this diagram:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/SOCyberntics.png
That is nothing specifically to do with human brains—it applies equally well to the “brain” of a washing machine.
Such a description is relatively simple. It could be presented to Martians in a manner so that they could understand it without access to any human brains.
That diagram also applies equally well to a thermostat, as I mentioned in a great-great-grandparent comment above.