Definition
Thinking as physical computation treats minds as information-processing patterns implemented by physical systems, with human brains as one biological example.
Why It Matters
This framing demystifies the mind, treating it as an information-processing pattern. It allows us to apply the laws of physics and computation to psychology and AI, providing a rigorous foundation for understanding personhood and the possibility of artificial consciousness.
Core Concepts
- Cognition depends on organized physical substrate.
- Artificial minds are conceptually possible if the relevant organization is reproduced.
- The question is functional organization, not carbon versus silicon.
- Personhood may depend on capacities rather than biological origin.