Understanding the Meaning of Understanding

Abstract

Can we train a machine to detect if another machine has understood a concept? In principle, this is possible by conducting tests on the subject of that concept. However we want this procedure to be done by avoiding direct questions. In other words, we would like to isolate the absolute meaning of an abstract idea by putting it into a class of equivalence, hence without adopting straight definitions or showing how this idea "works" in practice. We discuss the metaphysical implications hidden in the above question, with the aim of providing a plausible reference framework.