something encoded in the decimal expansion of some particle’s coordinate possesses the same subjective experience
No, it doesn’t. First of all, the fact that the state of a computer can be represented as a number does not mean that any particular number is a representation of a computer. Especially if that number is obviously something else, like the position of a particle.
Second, you have snuck in two major assumptions: that the universe contains infinitely many particles, and that every particle’s coordinates contain an infinite amount of information. Neither of these is a settled question in physics, and I can easily assert that the universe is finite and discrete.
Now I think I don’t get your objection. What does it mean for a number to “be something”? What if we stop the computer and run a single step of the simulation with pen and paper? And for the next step, run an unrelated calculation that searches for it within the digits of pi. Where exactly do you draw the line at which the conscious things inside the algorithm suddenly stop being conscious?
Of course not the value! But according to you, some physical law must exist that says aah, here’s a simulation of this particular Turing machine, so the beings inside it are now conscious. How might this law do its work? Does it look at me intently as I sit there rewriting stacks of ones and zeroes in the candlelight, running a simulation unbeknownst to myself?
At this point I can’t make up my mind whether something ought to “click” for me or for you.
Of course not the value! But according to you, some physical law must exist that says aah, here’s a simulation of this particular Turing machine, so the beings inside it are now conscious.
I never said that. But if insist, I can think of at least one such law which would have that consequence: a number cannot constitute consciousness unless something in the universe exists which uniquely specifies that number. According to this rule, writing down complete the state of a conscious Turing machine would make it exist, but writing the words “a conscious Turing machine” or “the set of all integers” would not.
What counts as “something in the universe that uniquely specifies a number”? I take it a particle’s coordinate written out in inches in trinary doesn’t count (why?), even if the universe is continuous. But the contents of a PC’s memory—if Nature assumes a certain voltage means 1 and another means 0 - do count for some reason. Okaaay, let’s pick a border case: a computer calculating successive digits of pi. Will it make every possible world with its conscious inhabitants suddenly spring into subjective life if we wait long enough? Should a span of digits count if it specifies a world when inverted? What if its square specifies a world? How about an off-by-one error? We could go on.
Those aren’t just nitpicks; most any rule you can think up is going to have the same problems. I confess to seeing no logical way out except to say that all “abstract” concepts like numbers or algorithms must be either equally real or equally unreal for purposes of creating “real” things like subjective experience.
No, it doesn’t. First of all, the fact that the state of a computer can be represented as a number does not mean that any particular number is a representation of a computer. Especially if that number is obviously something else, like the position of a particle.
Second, you have snuck in two major assumptions: that the universe contains infinitely many particles, and that every particle’s coordinates contain an infinite amount of information. Neither of these is a settled question in physics, and I can easily assert that the universe is finite and discrete.
Now I think I don’t get your objection. What does it mean for a number to “be something”? What if we stop the computer and run a single step of the simulation with pen and paper? And for the next step, run an unrelated calculation that searches for it within the digits of pi. Where exactly do you draw the line at which the conscious things inside the algorithm suddenly stop being conscious?
Whether a number constitutes a simulation depends on its color, not its value.
Of course not the value! But according to you, some physical law must exist that says aah, here’s a simulation of this particular Turing machine, so the beings inside it are now conscious. How might this law do its work? Does it look at me intently as I sit there rewriting stacks of ones and zeroes in the candlelight, running a simulation unbeknownst to myself?
At this point I can’t make up my mind whether something ought to “click” for me or for you.
I never said that. But if insist, I can think of at least one such law which would have that consequence: a number cannot constitute consciousness unless something in the universe exists which uniquely specifies that number. According to this rule, writing down complete the state of a conscious Turing machine would make it exist, but writing the words “a conscious Turing machine” or “the set of all integers” would not.
Gotcha.
What counts as “something in the universe that uniquely specifies a number”? I take it a particle’s coordinate written out in inches in trinary doesn’t count (why?), even if the universe is continuous. But the contents of a PC’s memory—if Nature assumes a certain voltage means 1 and another means 0 - do count for some reason. Okaaay, let’s pick a border case: a computer calculating successive digits of pi. Will it make every possible world with its conscious inhabitants suddenly spring into subjective life if we wait long enough? Should a span of digits count if it specifies a world when inverted? What if its square specifies a world? How about an off-by-one error? We could go on.
Those aren’t just nitpicks; most any rule you can think up is going to have the same problems. I confess to seeing no logical way out except to say that all “abstract” concepts like numbers or algorithms must be either equally real or equally unreal for purposes of creating “real” things like subjective experience.