Brain-Likeness? Empty or Full Makes the Difference

In recent years there has been an ever-increasing variety in organoid models representing many different organs and tissues and modeling their functions. Nervous system organoids have stirred debates about engineering particular functions of the central human nervous system: the brain. Optimizing the brain-likeness of the models is a key aim. How far can and should brain-likeness go? In particular, the engineering of ‘consciousness’ as a property specific to the brain has raised philosophical and ethical questions. Consciousness lacks clear definitions, and its substrate is largely unknown. I will suggest a focus on memory as a function instead, as this may contribute to epistemological clarity about engineering brain functions, well ahead of onrushing ethical dilemmas.