Is a simulated brain unconscious? The 'oilstorm' counter to substrate-dependent consciousness
yeastsplainer · x · 2026-10-07
Pushing back on the claim that "a simulated brain isn't conscious, just like a simulated rainstorm isn't wet," the author argues that an AI is not a simulation but a parallel real-world instantiation on a different substrate — like an actual storm raining oil instead of water, which can still get you wet.
The argument leans on "wetness" being highly substrate-independent and multiply realizable, suggesting consciousness shouldn't be tied to a specific biological substrate either. A concise philosophical exchange, no empirical content.
Related event: Debate Reignites Over AI Consciousness and the Simulated Rainstorm Analogy(2 posts)→