Consciousness Could Exist in Bodies Nothing Like Ours, Researchers Say
Philosophers Eric Schwitzgebel and Jeremy Pober argue that consciousness does not require biological substrates like those found on Earth. Their theory of 'substrate flexibility' suggests that consciousness could potentially exist in non-biological life forms throughout the universe.
Why it matters
This research challenges fundamental assumptions about the nature of life and consciousness, influencing fields from astrobiology to AI ethics.
Add ScienceAlert on Google (Henrik5000/Canva) Here's a question that sounds like science fiction but is being asked in deadly earnest by serious philosophers.
The article summarizes a philosophical paper and presents the arguments neutrally.
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