Ramstead in BBS: simulating consciousness computationally doesn't mean a system literally computes it
mjdramstead · x · 2026-09-18
Maxwell Ramstead (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) published a commentary in Behavioral and Brain Sciences distinguishing computational modeling from computational metaphysics (the Computational Theory of Mind).
Core argument: the ability to simulate a phenomenon's dynamics with computational models does not entail that the phenomenon literally performs the computations prescribed by the model. The author says he'll be 'tapping this sign' whenever artificial consciousness risks come up — a caution against conflating simulation with literal computation in AI consciousness debates.
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