Computation enables Action: Exploding the Simulation Fallacy

In a recent essay on LessWrong, Chris Hibbert engages a fundamental debate: can artificial intelligence achieve consciousness, or merely simulate it? The crux hinges on a concept called the 'mapmaker'—an active process that translates raw sensations into abstract thoughts. Philosopher Alexander Lerchner argues this mapping requires consciousness to already exist, making AI consciousness logically impossible. Hibbert disagrees, contending there's nothing special about biological brains; computation could perform the same work. Drawing on science fiction and behavioral evidence, he suggests consciousness may emerge when an agent recognizes itself as distinct and intentional—something machines could potentially achieve. The question remains: can consciousness be computed, or merely described?

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