Full Idea
Even the software/hardware distinction as it is literally applied within computer science is philosophically unclear.
Gist of Idea
The distinction between software and hardware is not clear in computing
Source
William Lycan (Consciousness [1987], 4.4)
Book Reference
Lycan,William G.: 'Consciousness' [MIT 1995], p.46
A Reaction
This is true, and very important for functionalist theories of the mind. Even very volatile software is realised in 'hard' physics, and rewritable discs etc blur the distinction between 'programmable' and 'hardwired'.