I doubt that David Chalmers will be convinced. I suspect he will still ask: Sure, self-modeling is relevant but still doesn't explain why we have conscious experiences. What you say here makes a lot of sense to me, although my answer to the "hard problem" tends to be: it just is this way. What could possible count as an explanation? It may not be a great analogy but it makes me think of the speed of light. WHY is it that speed rather than a different speed. It just is (at least in our universe) and no further explanation seems possible. Another possible parallel: Why does the universe exist?
Agreed, the theory presented is intended to make some progress on an explanation but is missing the final step: why does a self-model experience what it does when it models itself? I think you're right, it could not be otherwise.
I doubt that David Chalmers will be convinced. I suspect he will still ask: Sure, self-modeling is relevant but still doesn't explain why we have conscious experiences. What you say here makes a lot of sense to me, although my answer to the "hard problem" tends to be: it just is this way. What could possible count as an explanation? It may not be a great analogy but it makes me think of the speed of light. WHY is it that speed rather than a different speed. It just is (at least in our universe) and no further explanation seems possible. Another possible parallel: Why does the universe exist?
Agreed, the theory presented is intended to make some progress on an explanation but is missing the final step: why does a self-model experience what it does when it models itself? I think you're right, it could not be otherwise.