lerchner.md

gistfile1.txt

- Computational functionalism (`CF`) 
    - subjective experience emerges entirely from abstract causal topology, regardless of the underlying physical substrate
- `Comp` = something counts as computation; 
- `Alph` = needs an assigned finite meaningful alphabet; 
- `Phys` = that alphabet is intrinsic to the substrate's physics; 
- `Maker` = an external mapmaker supplies it; 
- `Consc` = that maker is a conscious subject; 
- `Work` = content/syntax does physical causal work; 
- `▷` = constitutes; 
- `Inst` = computation instantiates experience.
- 
- **Chain 1 (the "ontological inversion")**
    - P1. Comp → Alph
    - P2. Alph → ¬Phys
    - P3. ¬Phys → Maker
    - C1. Comp → Maker
    - P4. Maker → Consc
    - C2. Consc ▷ Comp
- **Chain 2**
    - P5. Real experience → Work
    - P6. ¬Work
        - __(only vehicle p is causal; content is inert)__
    - C3. ¬(content = real experience) → simulation ≠ instantiation 
        - __(modus tollens)__
- **Chain 3**
    - P7. CF → Comp ▷ Consc
    - P8. C2: Consc ▷ Comp
    - P9. (Consc ▷ Comp) → ¬(Comp ▷ Consc) 
        - __(grounding is asymmetric)__
          
    - C4. ¬(Comp ▷ Consc), and so ¬CF 
        - modus tollens
    - P10. ¬(Comp ▷ Consc) → ¬Inst
        - , at any scale
    - C5. ¬Inst 
        - __(AI can simulate but not instantiate)__