This cybernetic replacement fully emulates all interactions that it can have with any neighboring cells including any changes in those interactions based on inputs received and time passed, but is not biological.
Why would that be possible? Neurons have to process biochemicals. A full replacement would have to as well. How could it do
that without being at least partly biological?
It might be the case that an adequate replacement—not a full replacment—could be non-biological. But it might not.
It’s a thought experiment. It’s not meant to be a practical path to artificial consciousness or even brain emulation. It’s a conceptually possible scenario that raises interesting questions.
Why would that be possible? Neurons have to process biochemicals. A full replacement would have to as well. How could it do that without being at least partly biological?
It might be the case that an adequate replacement—not a full replacment—could be non-biological. But it might not.
It’s a thought experiment. It’s not meant to be a practical path to artificial consciousness or even brain emulation. It’s a conceptually possible scenario that raises interesting questions.
I am saying it is not conceptually possible to have something that precisely mimics a biological entity without being biological.
It will need to have a biological interface, but its insides could be nonbiological.