Against substrate-independent functionalism: reproducing the algorithm just is reproducing the substrate
DamonCrockett · x · 2026-10-06
Responding to strong substrate-independent functionalists who claim any manifestation of an algorithm—down to literally writing it out—is conscious, Damon Crockett argues such views read "algorithm" too abstractly. Fine physical details of the substrate may carry additional functional characteristics that must be reproduced in a new medium; in the limit, reproducing the algorithm just is reproducing the substrate. Josh Purtell agrees: consciousness clearly tolerates fuzziness (metabolic and blood-supply variations don't interrupt it), so not every implementation of an algorithm is equivalent.