Have you read Stross’s /Permutation City/? A part of the book focuses on a thought experiment basically just like this one. (The place the book then takes the thought experiment is one I find weird and implausible, but the question is the interesting part.)
It’s about the assignment of properties like copyright to strings of bits, where the property is not a computable function (or indeed, a function at all) of the bits themselves, but still has meaning. I think it’s an interesting perspective relevant to the question of assigning the property of consciousness to strings of bits, or physical processes computing on strings of bits. (I don’t think it’s an answer to the question of whether one can or should do so! It just brings up interesting points.)
Actually, I would also recommend the essay “What Color are Your Bits?” as relevant:
Thanks! That was a new perspective. I feel like claiming that the consciousness is in the “color” would be avoiding an answer… but it’s something to think about.
Have you read Stross’s /Permutation City/? A part of the book focuses on a thought experiment basically just like this one. (The place the book then takes the thought experiment is one I find weird and implausible, but the question is the interesting part.)
Actually, I would also recommend the essay “What Color are Your Bits?” as relevant: http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/lawpoli/colour/2004061001.php
It’s about the assignment of properties like copyright to strings of bits, where the property is not a computable function (or indeed, a function at all) of the bits themselves, but still has meaning. I think it’s an interesting perspective relevant to the question of assigning the property of consciousness to strings of bits, or physical processes computing on strings of bits. (I don’t think it’s an answer to the question of whether one can or should do so! It just brings up interesting points.)
Thanks! That was a new perspective. I feel like claiming that the consciousness is in the “color” would be avoiding an answer… but it’s something to think about.