The hard problem and the measurement problem: a no-go theorem and potential consequences
arXiv Preprint Archive September 27, 2019 Igor Salom
The measurement problem in quantum mechanics and the hard problem of consciousness may be deeply interconnected. A no-go theorem is presented, arguing that a brain operating solely on classical physics principles cannot generate subjective experience any more than printing a sequence of digits can. This suggests physicalism based on classical physics cannot explain consciousness, motivating exploration beyond 19th-century physics. The paper maps attitudes toward the hard problem onto interpretations of quantum mechanics, showing that subjective experience might distinguish between otherwise experimentally indistinguishable interpretations. Finally, it illustrates how quantum mechanics could move toward solving the hard problem and overcome the no-go theorem's constraints.