MindPapers: 8.7c. Consciousness and Physics, Misc

Acosta, Carlos (2006). The frame(s) problem and the physical and emotional basis of human cognition. Technoetic Arts 4 (2):151-65. (Google | More links | Edit)

Aerts, D.; Broekaert, J. & Gabora, Liane (2002). Intrinsic contextuality as the crux of consciousness. In Kunio Yasue, Marj Jibu & Tarcisio Della Senta (eds.), No Matter, Never Mind: Proceedings of Toward a Science of Consciousness: Fundamental Approaches (Tokyo '99). John Benjamins. (Cited by 8 | Google | More links | Edit)

Atmanspacher, Harald (1994). Complexity and meaning as a bridge across the cartesian cut. Journal of Consciousness Studies 1 (2):168-181. (Cited by 18 | Google | Edit)

Atmanspacher, Harald & Primas, Hans (2006). Pauli's ideas on mind and matter in the context of contemporary of science. Journal of Consciousness Studies 13 (3):5-50. (Google | Edit)

Abstract: Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958) was one of the greatest physicists of the past century. He played a leading role in the development of modern physics and was known for his ruthless intellectual integrity. Pauli first became famed through the publication of his encyclopaedia article on the theory of relativity (Pauli, 1921) when he was still a student of Sommerfeld's. Einstein much admired this article, which remained a classic

Baars, Bernard J. (1995). Can physics provide a theory of consciousness? Psyche 2 (8). (Cited by 5 | Google | More links | Edit)

Baer, Wolfgang (2007). The physical condition for consciousness: A comment on R. Shaw and J. Kinsella-Shaw. Journal of Consciousness Studies 14 (8):93-104. (Google | More links | Edit)

Abstract: If the universe is a machine, consciousness is not possible. If the universe is more than a machine, then physics is incomplete. Since we are both part of the universe and conscious, physics must be incomplete and the understanding required to construct conscious mechanisms must be sought through the advancement of physics not the continued application of inadequate concepts. In this paper I will show that an impediment to this advancement is the confusion arising through the use of terms such as 'physical reality' to refer to an absolute a priori Kantian 'Ding an Sich' when they should both be recognized as referring to data structures holding the knowledge upon which we act and nothing more. Once this confusion has been clarified, I will go on to suggest that the cycle of activity updating physical reality becomes a candidate for a conscious process. I will show how implementing algorithms in modern computers can mimic this process but if actual consciousness is to be achieved the update activity must correspond to a cycle in time. Such cycles have been identified with Whitehead's 'actual occasions' and thus I will argue that fundamental events should replace fundamental particles as the building blocks of the universe if consciousness is to be explained

Bieberich, Erhard (ms). Structure in human consciousness: A fractal approach to the topology of the self perceiving an outer world in an inner space. (Cited by 6 | Google | More links | Edit)

Abstract: In human consciousness a world of separated objects is perceived by an inner observer who is experienced as an undivided feeling of one-self. A topological correlation of the self to the world, however, entails a paradoxical situation by either merging all separated objects into one or splitting the self into as many subselves as there are objects perceived. This study introduces a model suggesting that the self is generated in a neural network by algorithmic compression of spatial and temporal information into a fractal structure. A correlation of an inner observer to parts of a fractal structure inevitably entails a correlation to the whole, thereby preserving the undividedness of the self. Molecular mechanisms for the generation of a fractal structure in a neural network and the possibility of experimental investigation will be discussed

Bilodeau, D. (1996). Physics, machines, and the hard problem. Journal of Consciousness Studies 3 (5-6):386-401. (Cited by 6 | Google | Edit)

Bohm, David J. (1986). A new theory of the relationship of mind and matter. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 80:113-35. (Cited by 49 | Google | Edit)

Burns, Jean E. (1990). Contemporary models of consciousness, part I. Journal of Mind and Behavior 11:153-171. (Google | Edit)

Burns, Jean E. (1991). Contemporary models of consciousness, part II. Journal of Mind and Behavior 12:407-420. (Google | Edit)

Burns, Jean E. (1996). The Possibility of Empirical Test of Hypotheses About Consciousness. In S. R. Hameroff, A. W. Kaszniak & A. C. Scott (eds.), Towards a Science of Consciousness. MIT Press. (Cited by 2 | Google | Edit)

Clarke, Christopher J. S. (2001). Consciousness and non-hierarchical physics. In P. Van Loocke (ed.), The Physical Nature of Consciousness. John Benjamins. (Cited by 2 | Google | Edit)

Clarke, Christopher J. S. (1995). The nonlocality of mind. Journal of Consciousness Studies 2:231-40. (Cited by 16 | Google | Edit)

Culbertson, James T. (1982). Consciousness: Natural and Artificial. Libra. (Cited by 4 | Google | Edit)

de Silva, F. (1996). Consciousness and special relativity. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine 15:21-26. (Google | Edit)

Dugic, M.; Cirkovic, Milan M. & Rakovic, D. (2002). On a possible physical metatheory of consciousness. Open Systems and Information Dynamics 9:153-166. (Cited by 7 | Google | More links | Edit)

Dyer, Michael G. (1994). Quantum physics and consciousness, creativity, and computers. Journal of Mind and Behavior 15 (3):265-90. (Cited by 1 | Google | Edit)

Elitzur, Avshalom C. (1996). Time and consciousness: The uneasy bearing of relativity on the mind-body problem. In Stuart R. Hameroff, Alfred W. Kaszniak & A. C. Scott (eds.), Toward a Science of Consciousness. MIT Press. (Google | Edit)

Esfeld, Michael (1999). Quantum holism and the philosophy of mind. Journal of Consciousness Studies 6 (1):23-38. (Cited by 7 | Google | More links | Edit)

Abstract: This paper attempts to build a bridge between the interpretation of quantum theory and the philosophy of mind. In contrast to other such attempts, the bridge which this paper suggests does not consist in extending features of quantum theory to the philosophy of mind. The argument of this paper is that the discussion about a revision of the Cartesian tradition in current philosophy of mind is relevant to the interpretation of quantum theory: taking this discussion into account sharpens up the task for the interpretation of quantum physics as far as the scope of what is known as quantum holism is concerned. In particular, considering this discussion makes out a strong case against the interpretation that considers quantum holism to be universal in the physical realm

Globus, Gordon G.; Pribram, Karl H. & Vitiello, Giuseppe (eds.) (2004). Brain and Being. John Benjamins. (Cited by 3 | Google | Edit)

Gordon, David C. (1984). Special relativity and the location of mental events. Analysis 44 (June):126-127. (Cited by 1 | Google | Edit)

Goswami, Amit (2001). Physics within non-dual consciousness. Philosophy East and West 51 (4):535-544. (Google | More links | Edit)

Goswami, Amit (ms). The hard questions: View from a science of consciousness. (Google | Edit)

Herbert, N. (1993). Elemental Mind: Human Consciousness and the New Physics. Dutton. (Cited by 22 | Google | Edit)

Ho, M. W. (1997). Quantum coherence and conscious experience. Kybernetes 26:265-76. (Cited by 9 | Google | More links | Edit)

Hodgson, David (1996). Nonlocality, local indeterminism, and consciousness. Ratio 9 (1):1-22. (Cited by 3 | Google | Edit)

Hodgson, David (1988). The Mind Matters: Consciousness and Choice in a Quantum World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Cited by 35 | Google | Edit)

Jibu, Marj (2002). The mind-body and the light-matter. In Kunio Yasue, Marj Jibu & Tarcisio Della Senta (eds.), No Matter, Never Mind. John Benjamins. (Google | Edit)

Josephson, Brian (2002). The importance of experience: Where for the future? In Kunio Yasue, Marj Jibu & Tarcisio Della Senta (eds.), No Matter, Never Mind. John Benjamins. (Google | Edit)

Kato, Goro & Struppa, D. (2002). Category theory and consciousness. In Kunio Yasue, Marj Jibu & Tarcisio Della Senta (eds.), No Matter, Never Mind. John Benjamins. (Cited by 4 | Google | Edit)

Laszlo, Ervin (2006). Quantum and consciousness: In search of a new paradigm. Zygon 41 (3):533-541. (Cited by 2 | Google | More links | Edit)

Lipkin, Michael (2005). The field concept in current models of consciousness: A tool for solving the hard problem? Mind and Matter 3 (2):29-85. (Cited by 1 | Google | More links | Edit)

Lockwood, Michael (2003). Consciousness and the quantum world: Putting qualia on the map. In Quentin Smith & Aleksandar Jokic (eds.), Consciousness: New Philosophical Perspectives. Oxford University Press. (Google | Edit)

Lockwood, Michael (1984). Reply to David Gordon's Special Relativity and the Location of Mental Events. Analysis 44 (June):127-128. (Google | Edit)

Loewer, Barry M. (2003). Consciousness and quantum theory: Strange bedfellows. In Quentin Smith & Aleksandar Jokic (eds.), Consciousness: New Philosophical Perspectives. Oxford University Press. (Google | Edit)

Loockvane, Philip (2001). The philosophy of consciousness, 'deep' teleology and objective selection. In Philip Van Loocke (ed.), The Physical Nature of Consciousness. Advances in Consciousness Research, Vol 29. (Google | Edit)

Macdonald, Copthorne (1994). An energy/ awareness/ information interpretation of physical and mental reality. Zygon 29 (2):135-151. (Cited by 2 | Google | Edit)

Mahler, Gunter (2004). The partitioned quantum universe: Entanglement and the emergence of functionality. Mind and Matter 2 (2):67-89. (Cited by 1 | Google | More links | Edit)

Abstract: Given that the world as we perceive it appears to be predominantly classical, how can we stabilize quantum effects? Given the fundamental description of our world is quantum mechanical, how do classical phenomena emerge? Answers can be found from the analysis of the scaling properties of modular quantum systems with respect to a given level of description. It is argued that, depending on design, such partitioned quantum systems may support various functions. Despite their local appearance these functions are emergent properties of the system as a whole. With respect to the separation of subject and object such functions of interest are control, simulation, and observation. They are interpreted in close analogy with more basic physical behavior

McFadden, J. (2002). Synchronous firing and its influence on the brain's electromagnetic field. Journal of Consciousness Studies 9 (4):23-50. (Google | Edit)

McFadden, J. (2002). The conscious electromagnetic information (cemi) field theory: The hard problem made easy? Journal of Consciousness Studies 9 (8):45-60. (Cited by 7 | Google | More links | Edit)

McFadden, J. (2002). The conscious electromagnetic field: The hard problem made easy? Journal of Consciousness Studies. (Google | Edit)

Mohrhoff, Ulrich (online). Beyond the cookie Cutter paradigm. Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. (Cited by 11 | Google | Edit)

Mohrhoff, Ulrich (2007). Particles, consciousness, volition: A vedantic vision. AntiMatters 1 (1):23-53. (Cited by 4 | Google | Edit)

Mohrhoff, Ulrich (online). Quantum mechanics and the cookie Cutter paradigm. arXiv.Org. (Cited by 8 | Google | More links | Edit)

Moravec, Hans (1995). Roger Penrose's gravitonic brains: A review of Shadows of the Mind by Roger Penrose. Psyche 2 (1). (Cited by 1 | Google | Edit)

Abstract: Summarizing a surrounding 200 pages, pages 179 to 190 of Shadows of the Mind contain a future dialog between a human identified as "Albert Imperator" and an advanced robot, the "Mathematically Justified Cybersystem", allegedly Albert's creation. The two have been discussing a Gödel sentence for an algorithm by which a robot society named SMIRC certifies mathematical proofs. The sentence, referred to in mathematical notation as Omega(Q*), is to be precisely constructed from on a definition of SMIRC's algorithm. It can be interpreted as stating "SMIRC's algorithm cannot certify this statement." The robot has asserted that SMIRC never makes mistakes. If so, SMIRC's algorithm cannot certify the Goedel sentence, for that would make the statement false. But, if they can't certify it, what is says is true! Humans can understand it is true, but mighty SMIRC cannot certify it. The dialog ends melodramatically as the robot, apparently unhinged by this revelation, claims to be a messenger of god, and the human shuts it down with a secret control

Nair, R. (1991). Quantum physics and the philosophy of mind: An essay review. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research 50. (Google | Edit)

Nunn, C. M. H.; Clarke, Christopher J. S. & Blott, B. H. (1994). Collapse of a quantum field may affect brain function. Journal of Consciousness Studies 1:127-39. (Cited by 8 | Google | Edit)

Nunn, C. M. H. (1996). On the geometry of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies 3:477-83. (Google | Edit)

Penrose, Roger (1994). Is conscious awareness consistent with space-time descriptions? In Philosophy, Mathematics and Modern Physics. New York: Springer-Verlag. (Google | Edit)

Penrose, Roger (1994). Shadows of the Mind. Oxford University Press. (Cited by 1412 | Google | More links | Edit)

Penrose, Roger (1989). The Emperor's New Mind. Oxford University Press. (Cited by 3 | Annotation | Google | More links | Edit)

Penrose, Roger (1997). The Large, the Small, and the Human Mind. Cambridge University Press. (Cited by 129 | Google | More links | Edit)

Pitkanen, M. (2001). Matter, mind and the quantum: A topological geometro-dynamics perspective. In P. Van Loocke (ed.), The Physical Nature of Consciousness. John Benjamins. (Google | Edit)

Pockett, Susan (2002). Difficulties with the electromagnetic field theory of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies 9 (4):51-56. (Cited by 9 | Google | Edit)

Primas, Hans (2003). Between mind and matter. Mind and Matter 1 (1):81-119. (Google | More links | Edit)

Abstract: This contribution explores Wolfgang Pauli's idea that mind and matter are complementary aspects of the same reality. We adopt the working hypothesis that there is an undivided timeless primordial reality (the primordial 'one world'). Breaking its symmetry, we obtain a contextual description of the holistic reality in terms of two categorically different domains, one tensed and the other tenseless. The tensed domain includes, in addition to tensed time, nonmaterial processes and mental events. The tenseless domain refers to matter and physical energy. This concept implies that mind cannot be reduced to matter, and that matter cannot be reduced to mind. The non-Boolean logical framework of modern quantum theory is general enough to implement this idea. Time is not taken to be an a priori concept, but an archetypal acausal order is assumed which can be represented by a one-parameter group of automorphisms, generating a time operator which parametrizes all processes, whether material or nonmaterial. The time-reversal symmetry is broken in the nonmaterial domain, resulting in a universal direction of time for the material domain as well

Pylkkanen, Paavo (2004). Can quantum analogies help us to understand the process of thought? In Gordon G. Globus, Karl H. Pribram & Giuseppe Vitiello (eds.), Brain and Being. John Benjamins. (Cited by 1 | Google | Edit)

Romijn, Herms (2002). Are virtual photons the elementary carriers of consciousness? Journal of Consciousness Studies 9 (1):61-81. (Cited by 6 | Google | Edit)

Ross, Andrew (2005). Roads to reality: Penrose and Wolfram compared contenders. Journal of Consciousness Studies 12 (2):78-83. (Cited by 1 | Google | Edit)

Abstract: Sir Roger Penrose, retired professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford and collaborator with Stephen Hawking on black hole theory, has written 'a complete guide to the laws of the universe' called The Road to Reality. His publisher calls it the most important and ambitious work of science for a generation. Penrose caused a furore in the world of consciousness studies with his 1989 book The Emperor's New Mind, which conjectured a new mechanism for consciousness and kept a faithful band of researchers busy for a decade with models based on microtubules and the like. Sadly, the idea fizzled out. The title of the 2002 Tucson 'Toward a Science of Consciousness' conference poetry slam winner was: Microtubules - my ass!

Rossler, Otto E. (1998). Is physics an observer-private phenomenon like consciousness? Journal of Consciousness Studies 5 (4):443-453. (Cited by 2 | Google | Edit)

Schaefer, Lothar (2006). A response to Ervin Laszlo: Quantum and consciousness. Zygon 41 (3):573-582. (Google | Edit)

Schafer, Lothar (2006). Quantum reality and the consciousness of the universe - quantum reality, the emergence of complex order from virtual states, and the importance of consciousness in the universe. Zygon 41 (3):505-532. (Google | Edit)

Schäfer, Lothar (2006). A response to Ervin Laszlo: Quantum and consciousness. Zygon 41 (3):573-582. (Google | Edit)

Schäfer, Lothar (2006). A response to Carl Helrich: The limitations and promise of quantum theory. Zygon 41 (3):583-591. (Google | Edit)

Schäfer, Lothar (2006). Quantum reality, the emergence of complex order from virtual states, and the importance of consciousness in the universe. Zygon 41 (3):505-532. (Google | Edit)

Snyder, Douglas M. (1983). On the nature of relationships involving the observer and the observed phenomenon in psychology and physics. Journal of Mind and Behavior 4:389-400. (Cited by 3 | Google | Edit)

Squires, Euan J. (1990). Conscious Mind in the Physical World. Adam Hilger. (Cited by 35 | Google | More links | Edit)

van Loocke, Philip (ed.) (2001). The Physical Nature of Consciousness. John Benjamins. (Google | Edit)

Walker, E. H. (2001). The natural philosophy and physics of consciousness. In P. Van Loocke (ed.), The Physical Nature of Consciousness. John Benjamins. (Cited by 3 | Google | Edit)

Zohar, D. & Marshall, I. N. (1990). The Quantum Self. Morrow. (Cited by 117 | Google | More links | Edit)

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