Note that neither an abacus nor a calculator in a vacuum satisfy that definition.
I’ll allow voltages and mental states to serve as evidence, even if they are not possible to measure directly.
Does a calculator with no labels on the buttons do arithmetic in the same sense that a standard one does?
Does the phrase “2+3=6” do arithmetic? What about the phrase “2*3=6″?
I will accept as obvious that arithmetic occurs in the case of a person using a calculator to perform arithmetic, but not obvious during precisely what periods arithmetic is occurring and not occurring.
Note that neither an abacus nor a calculator in a vacuum satisfy that definition.
I’ll allow voltages and mental states to serve as evidence, even if they are not possible to measure directly.
Does a calculator with no labels on the buttons do arithmetic in the same sense that a standard one does?
Does the phrase “2+3=6” do arithmetic? What about the phrase “2*3=6″?
I will accept as obvious that arithmetic occurs in the case of a person using a calculator to perform arithmetic, but not obvious during precisely what periods arithmetic is occurring and not occurring.