Cover
Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
List of Contributors
Information on Editor
Introduction
References
Part I: Consciousness and Wave Function Collapse
1: Consciousness and the Collapse of the Wave Function
1. Introduction
2. Consciousness as Super-Resistant
3. Superselection and the Zeno Problem
4. Integrated Information Theory
5. Combining IIT with Quantum Mechanics
6. Continuous Collapse Dynamics
7. Experimental Tests
8. The Causal Role of Consciousness
9. Philosophical Objections
10. Conclusion
Appendix A: Calculating Q-Shape for a Dyad System in IIT 3.0 and Quantum IIT
References
2: The Subjective-Objective Collapse Model Virtues and Challenges
1. Introduction
2. The Measurement Problem and the Subjective-Objective Collapse Model
2.1 The Measurement Problem
2.2 Objective Collapse Models
2.3 The Subjective-Objective Collapse Model
3. The SOC Model, Theories of Consciousness and Multiple Realizability
4. The SOC Model as a Quantum Theory
4.1 Choosing the Value of the Collapse Parameter
4.2 Interpreting the Model
Acknowledgments
References
3: Quantum Mentality Panpsychism and Panintentionalism
1. Introduction
2. Rational Categorical Bases and Indexical Information
2.1 Argument for Panintentionalism
3. The Notion of Observer in Quantum Mechanics
4. Conclusion
References
4: Perception Constraints on Mass-Dependent Spontaneous Localization
1. Introduction
2. BDF on Continuous Spontaneous Localization
3. BDF on Visual Perception
4. Problems in the BDF Analysis
4.1 Problems in BDF’s Calculations
4.2 Allowing for the Cytoplasm
4.2.1 Considering the cytoplasm as homogeneous
4.2.2 Allowing for cytoplasmic inhomogeneity
4.3 Limits of Human Perception
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Part II: Consciousness in Quanatum Theories
5: Quantum Mechanics and the Consciousness Constraint
1. The Consciousness Constraint in More Detail
2. Can the Wave Function Ground Ordinary Objects?
3. The Nature of Evidence
4. Can the Wave Function Monist Account for Consciousness?
5. Much Work to Be Done!
References
6: Against “Experience”
1. Against “Measurement”
2. The Good
3. The Bad
4. The Ugly
5. The Extent of the Problem
References
7: Why Physics Should Care about the Mind, and How to Think about it Without Worrying about the Mind-Body Problem
1. The Intrusion of the Observer
2. The Pessimistic Reaction
3. What We Can Ignore: the Mind-body Problem and Physics
4. Does Quantum Mechanics Make Consciousness Relevant to Physics?
5. Easy (and Interesting) Problems: is the Mind Properly Characterized in Computational or Dynamical Terms?
6. Is the Mind a Computer?
7. Details of Implementation
8. In Sum
8: Why Mind Matters in Quantum Mechanics
References
9: The Nature of Belief in No-Collapse Everett Interpretations
1. Introduction
2. The Bare Theory, Introspection, and Superposition
3. Linearity and Deception
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
10: The Completeness of Quantum Mechanics and the Determinateness and Consistency of Intersubjective Experience: Wigner’s Friend and Delayed Choice
1. Introduction
2. Wigner’s Friend Revisited
3. Principle Explanation of EPR-Bell Correlations
4. Principle Explanation of Wigner’s Friend
5. Experimental Evidence for Wigner’s Friend?
6. Principle Explanation of Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser
7. Re-Thinking the World with Neutral Monism: Removing the Boundaries Between Mind, Matter, and Spacetime
References
11: The Roles Ascribed to Consciousness in Quantum Physics: A Revelator of Dualist (or Quasi-Dualist) Prejudice
1. Introduction
2. Sense, Non-Sense, and Philosophy
3. Tacit Presuppositions
4. Phenomenology beyond Presuppositions
5. A Phenomenological Critique of the Concept of “Physical System”
6. Quantum Physics without Physical Systems
7. What Must Be Assumed for the Measurement Problem to Make Sense?
8. Solving or Dissolving the Measurement Problem?
9. An Interlude: Decoherence
10. Consciousness as an Extraphysical Gimmick, and the Phenomenological Deflation
11. Transcendental Ego and Introspection
12. The Phenomenological Flavor of Everett’s Interpretation
13. QBism and Phenomenology
14. QBism without Measurement Problem
15. QBism beyond Idealism and Instrumentalism
16. “Participatory Realism” and Merleau-Ponty’s Embodiment
17. Illusory Separations in a Non-Separate World
18. Conclusion
References
12: Proposal to Use Humans to Switch Settings in a Bell Experiment
1. Introduction
2. Previous Discussion
3. The Need for Interventions to Determine Settings While Particles Are in Flight
4. Components of an Experiment
4.1 A Bell Experiment
4.2 Human Input
4.3 Neurological Analysis
4.4 Fast Electronics and Radio Transmission
4.5 People Management
4.6 Data Analysis
4.7 Controls
5. Fraction of Cases with Switching
6. Feasibility
7. Bell Inequalities with Retarded Settings
8. Connection to Mind Matter Debate
8.1 Consciousness
8.2 Cartesian Dualism
8.3 Super-Deterministic Theories
8.4 Local (Super)-Deterministic Dualistic Theories
8.5 Local (Super)-Deterministic Interventionist Brain Theories
8.6 Turing-Style Test
9. Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
Part III: Quantum Approaches to Consciousness
13: New Physics for the Orch-OR Consciousness Proposal
1. Conscious Understanding, as Opposed to Computation
2. Why Unknown Algorithms Don’t Underlie Our Understandings
3. What Kind of Physical Processes Could Be Non-Algorithmic?
4. The Collapse of the Wave Function
5. The Diósi-Penrose Criterion for the Rate of OR
6. Special Relativity and Retro-Activity in OR
7. Gradualist OR: CSL Models
8. Quantum and Classical Reality
9. OR and Consciousness
Acknowledgment
References
14: Orch OR and the Quantum Biology of Consciousness
1. Introduction: Consciousness in the Universe
2. Computability and Non-Computability in the Brain
3. Objective Reduction (OR) and the Nature of Reality
4. Anesthesia and the “Quantum Underground”
5. Microtubules and Orch OR—Orchestrated Objective Reduction
6. Free Will and Retroactivity
7. Orch OR Skeptical Criticism
8. Discussion
9. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
15: Can Quantum Mechanics Solve the Hard Problem of Consciousness?
1. Introduction
2. The Hard Problem of Consciousness and Our Notion of the Physical
3. Bohm’s Discovery of a Quantum Ontology
4. The Quantum Potential and Active Information
5. The Quantum Potential as an Essential Feature of Kinematics
6. Information and Meaning
7. The Organic Unity of the Quantum Many-Body System
8. Meaning Organizes Matter
9. The Mind-Like Quantum
10. Extension to Quantum Field Theory
11. Consciousness and the Hierarchy of Quantum Fields of Information
12. Life, Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
13. From Panpsychism to Cosmopsychism
14. The Implicate Order and Consciousness
15. What Is Quantum Mechanics?
16. The *-product and Classical Physics
17. Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgments
References
16: Strange Trails: Science to Metaphysics
References
17: On the Place of Qualia in a Relational Universe
1. Introduction
1.1 Brief Summary of the Proposals Made Here
1.2 Some Comments on the Mind-body Problem
2. The Context: Relational Physics
2.1 Basic Principles of Relational Physics
2.2 How to Describe a Cosmological Theory? The General Picture and Vocabulary
3. Hypotheses about Physical Correlates of Consciousness (PCC)
3.1 The Causal Theory of Views [27]
3.1.1 The basics of energetic causal sets [51–54, 56].
3.1.2 Connecting to the real ensemble formulation
3.1.3 From views to correlates of consciousness
3.2 Common and Unique Views
3.3 Routine and Novel Events
3.4 Principle of Precedence [28]
3.5 The principle of Precedence Applied to an Energetic Causal Set Theory
3.6 Energy and Qualia
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Index