LLMs - Syntax, Semantics, and Segfaults

Thoughts

The Convergence of Language, Understanding, and Consciousness: A Philosophical Inquiry into Human and Artificial Cognition

1. Introduction The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) has prompted a reconsideration of fundamental philosophical questions concerning language, understanding, and consciousness. This essay examines the intersection of Wittgensteinian language philosophy, computational theories of mind, and emergent theories of consciousness to argue that the apparent distinction between human and artificial

Thoughts

Syntax, Semantics, and Computation: A Formal Theory of Indirect Turing Completeness

Introduction The previous essays in this series have explored the computational nature of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their relationship to classical computation theory. In "Syntax, Semantics, and Computation: LLMs and Their Computational Boundaries," we established that LLMs themselves are not Turing-complete in the traditional sense due to

Thoughts

A Wittgensteinian Critique of Heidegger's Views on Understanding and Technology

Introduction Martin Heidegger and Ludwig Wittgenstein represent two of the most influential philosophical voices of the 20th century, each offering profound insights into the nature of understanding, language, and human existence. While they share certain concerns—particularly a critique of traditional metaphysics and a focus on everyday practices—their approaches

Thoughts

Wittgenstein's Certainty and Understanding: Another Perspective on the Illusion of Direct Experience

Introduction In our previous exploration of "The Illusion of Direct Experience," we examined how human perception is not the immediate access to reality it appears to be, but rather a sophisticated neural construction. We argued that the brain's interpretive processes—translating sensory signals into coherent experiences—

Thoughts

The Illusion of Direct Experience: Reconsidering the Grounding Problem in Human and Artificial Understanding

Introduction The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) has precipitated a fundamental reconsideration of what constitutes "understanding." A persistent critique of these systems centers on their lack of "direct sensory experience" of the world they describe through language. According to critics, LLMs merely process tokens—symbolic

Thoughts

Beyond Tokens: Reconsidering Understanding in Large Language Models

Introduction The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) has precipitated a profound philosophical quandary regarding the nature of understanding itself. These systems—trained on vast corpora of human-written text—demonstrate capabilities that would unquestionably be labeled as "understanding" if exhibited by humans. They can interpret nuanced requests, recognize

Thoughts

Computational Graph Logging and Differential Analysis for LLM Function Extraction

Abstract This research essay explores a novel approach to understanding Large Language Models (LLMs) through computational graph logging and differential analysis. We propose treating LLMs as complex mathematical functions and extracting their functional behavior by systematically logging kernel operations during inference. Our approach introduces two key innovations: (1) probabilistic kernel

Thoughts

Syntax, Semantics, and Computation: Towards Reliable Indirect Turing Completeness

Introduction The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) has fundamentally altered our understanding of the relationship between natural language and computation. As established in "Syntax, Semantics, and Computation: LLMs and Their Computational Boundaries," these models occupy a unique position in the landscape of computational systems—neither fully Turing-complete

Thoughts

Syntax, Semantics, and Computation: LLMs and Their Computational Boundaries

Introduction Our previous discussions on syntax, semantics, and segfaults have traversed the spectrum from cross-disciplinary analysis to formal mathematical treatments to practical implementations. In "Syntax, Semantics, and Segfaults: A Cross-Disciplinary Analysis," we explored how structured rules of language (syntax) and their interpretation (semantics) govern both human communication and