Mind: A Brief Introduction (John R. Searle) / quote 65 of 138
What an algorithm is
An algorithm is a method for solving a problem by going through a precise series of steps. The steps must be finite in number, and if carried out correctly, they guarantee a solution to the problem. For this reason algorithms are also called “effective procedures.” Good examples are the methods used to solve problems in arithmetic, such as addition and subtraction. If you follow the steps exactly, you will get the correct solution.