noncarts

A noncart is a theoretical computational construct proposed within certain areas of computer science and philosophy of mind. The term "noncart" is a portmanteau derived from "non-computable" and "Cartesian," referencing the Cartesian dualism that suggests a separation between mind and body, or in this context, between computational processes and something that is fundamentally not reducible to computation.

The core idea behind a noncart is a system or entity that exhibits properties or engages in behaviors that are considered non-computable. Computability theory defines what can be solved by an algorithm. Therefore, a noncart would possess abilities that lie outside the scope of what any algorithm, regardless of its complexity or the resources available, could ever achieve. Examples of non-computable problems include the halting problem and Hilbert's tenth problem.

The concept of a noncart is often used as a thought experiment to explore the limits of artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness. Proponents suggest that if consciousness or certain forms of intelligence are indeed non-computable, then a true artificial general intelligence replicating these aspects might be impossible through purely algorithmic means. Instead, it might require a different kind of substrate or principle, one that is not bound by the Church-Turing thesis.

Conversely, critics argue that the concept of a noncart is either ill-defined or based on a misunderstanding of computability. They maintain that all physical processes, including those in the brain, are ultimately computable, even if the computation is incredibly complex and practically intractable. The debate surrounding noncarts touches upon fundamental questions about the relationship between mathematics, physics, and the mind.