1. The experience of redness is obtained from wavelength light of about 660 nanometers. This does not mean that all the beings with eyes generate the experience of redness with light of wavelength of about 660 nanometers. Some beings could generate this experience in other ways, with other wavelengths, as the same LP disc sounds different in different players (at 33 and 45 rpm) and two different discs can sound the same in different players.
2. Nature creates natural vessels in the rocks, in capricious forms. Humans create artificial vessels by carving rocks. The recipients, thanks to their shape, acquire the emergent property of retaining liquids. This does not mean that we can not create other artificial recipients, with the same emergent property, through other materials, such as wood or mud.
3. Humans create stone houses that acquire the emergent property of serving as a refuge. This does not mean that we are not able to build houses with coffee stir sticks.
and now:
4. Nature creates beings capable of experiencing pleasure and pain through natural, wet neurons. This does not mean that we can not create other artificial beings capable of experiencing pleasure and pain with another type of elements that are not natural, wet neurons.
That is to say:
1. We have enough evidence to say that redness is generated in humans with wavelength light of about 660 nanometers. We do not have enough evidence to say that the redness is not generated in other beings in other ways.
2. We have enough evidence to say that the stone carved in a certain way behaves like a recipient. We do not have enough evidence to say that for the emergent property of “being a recipient” to exist, a stony substrate is necessary.
3. We have enough evidence to say that we can build stone houses that serve as homes. We do not have enough evidence to say that for the emergent property of “serving as a home” to exist, it is necessary, again, a stony substrate.
and now:
4. We have enough evidence to say that wet natural neurons produce beings with the emerging ability to experience pleasure and pain. We do not have enough evidence to say that for existing beings with the emergent capacity to experience pleasure and pain, natural wet neurons are needed.
Conclusion:
We do not have enough evidence to say that artificial robots, made of artificial neurons, are not capable of feeling.
You can say that your intuition tells you that beings without natural, wet neurons can not feel, in the same way that you can say that your intuition tells you that the houses that serve as shelter must be made of stone, and not coffee stir sticks.
> Some beings could generate [the experience of redness] in other ways, with other wavelengths
Obviously, it is possible to have red qualia just by imagining / dreaming it without the stimulation from the “red” light or even from other senses, like in the case of synesthesia.
Good example, I had not thought about it. Thanks, Alex.