Real artificial consciousness is, of course, incompatible with biological naturalism
Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x2510352x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Seth's simultaneous endorsement of "biological naturalism" and the possibility of engineering "real artificial consciousness" in an artificially "alive" non-carbon system constitutes a fatal contradiction or ambiguity. |
Abstract
Abstract There is a curious contradiction in Seth’s argument, or a degree of ambiguity which proves to be fatal. He endorses “biological naturalism,” but he says also that it is possible to engineer “real artificial consciousness.” Such an artificially consciousness system need not be carbon-based, he says, so long as it is embodied in a system that is artificially “alive.”