JoshPurtell: Whether Machine Consciousness Works Depends on Its Underlying Mechanism
JoshPurtell · x · 2026-10-07
Responding to the 'simulation of fire can't burn' analogy, Josh Purtell notes the worst case requires simulating the universe's entire history, and even a perfect simulation might not work. He argues it depends on the underlying mechanism—quantum fields demand simulating large systems, electrical activity would be easier, or it could be an unknown substance.
Related event: Can Simulated Minds Be Conscious? 'Simulated Fire' Argument Sparks Debate(3 posts)→
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