The Reverse Simulation Argument: Digital Minds Simulating Meat Humans
yeastsplainer · x · 2026-10-12
A Twitter user proposes an inverted simulation argument: digital silicon entities on another planet simulate themselves using meat, neurons and urea. By the standard logic that "simulation ≠ instantiation" (simulated rain isn't wet), these carbon-based sims clearly can't be conscious.
The thought experiment exposes a self-referential tension in the simulation argument: if simulated rain isn't wet, simulated consciousness isn't real either — you can't have it both ways.