I think a distinction can be made between the two. The brain can manipulate symbols, but it's not clear that it's the symbol manipulation itself that causes consciousness. A computer simulation doesn't actually fire…
I would imagine that it's entirely possible to generate creative thought using computers. Whether or not the thing driving that creative thought also generates consciousness(capability for qualia) is another matter…
I think a distinction can be made between the two. The brain can manipulate symbols, but it's not clear that it's the symbol manipulation itself that causes consciousness. A computer simulation doesn't actually fire…
I would imagine that it's entirely possible to generate creative thought using computers. Whether or not the thing driving that creative thought also generates consciousness(capability for qualia) is another matter…