John Searle

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/john-searle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was John Searle born?July 31, 1932
2. When did John Searle die?September 17, 2025
3. What is the doctoral institution?University of Oxford (DPhil)
4. What is the philosophical focus?Philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, consciousness, intentionality, artificial intelligence, social philosophy

Intentionality: The property of mental states being directed toward or about objects and states of affairs in the world.
Biological Naturalism: Searle's view that consciousness is a higher-level biological feature of the brain, caused by neurobiological processes.
Strong AI: The hypothesis that a properly programmed computer can have a mind and possess consciousness and understanding.
Social Constructionism: The theory that many aspects of reality are created through social interactions and shared understandings.