CF Debate

Key Argument

The most influential arguments in the computational functionalism debate, representing both the strongest challenges to and defenses of the theory.

3 supporting4 challenging

Supporting Arguments (3)

Church Turing Thesis

Most natural processes are computable, so it's likely consciousness is too.

Key Argument, Methodology, Substrate, Behavioural, Ontology, Computational, Promotes digital CF

Fading Qualia

If you slowly replaced your neurons with functionally equivalent chips, your consciousness would fade but you wouldn't be able to report it.

Key Argument, Conceivability, Substrate, Phenomenology, Promotes functionalism

Multiple Realisability Argument

Since different brains can have the same mental state (e.g., pain), what must matter is the functional pattern, not the physical material.

Key Argument, Substrate, Phenomenology, Methodology, Promotes all CF

Challenging Arguments (4)

Phenomenal Binding Problem

How do CF algorithms give rise to ontologically unified moments of experience?

Key Argument, Phenomenology, Epiphenomenalism, Targets digital CF

Knowledge Arguments

Knowing all the physical facts about an experience (like seeing red) is not the same as having that experience.

Key Argument, Conceivability, Phenomenology, Targets physicalism

Counterfactual Computation Critique

CF says consciousness depends on what a system could do (counterfactuals), not what it actually does, which can lead to odd results.

Key Argument, Epiphenomenalism, Computational, Targets all CF

Physics Violations

Consciousness requires tracking patterns over time, but fundamental physics equations only depend on the current state.

Key Argument, Targets functionalism