[ExI] The digital nature of brains (was: digital simulations)

[Gordon Swobe]

--- On Mon, 2/1/10, Stathis Papaioannou <stathisp at gmail.com> wrote:

>> I reject as absurd for example your theory that a
>> brain the size of Texas constructed of giant neurons made of
>> beer cans and toilet paper will have consciousness merely by
>> virtue of those beer cans squirting neurotransmitters
>> betwixt themselves in the same patterns that natural neurons
>> do.
> 
> That is a consequence of functionalism but at this point
> functionalism is assumed to be wrong. 

?? 

Can a conscious Texas-sized brain constructed out of giant neurons made of beer cans and toilet paper exist as a possible consequence of your brand of functionalism? Or not? 

-gts