6 papers in the library · 210 citations · publishing 2008-2026
Routledge eBooks October 29, 2026 Michel Bitbol
Surprising as it may seem, when pushed to their ultimate accomplishments, the natural sciences, rather than supporting naturalism, ultimately challenge it. The problem is not only that naturalism falls into a performative contradiction when it attempts to ground science in purely natural terms; it is that cutting-edge natural sciences, such as quantum physics, reveal their full significance...
Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics July 18, 2022 Michel Bitbol
AbstractTwo questions standardly arise about the connections between quantum mechanics and consciousness: “how can consciousness impose a reduction of the physical system’s quantum state?”; and, conversely, “how can consciousness be produced by a quantum process?”. In this paper, such questions are not answered, but considered as symptoms of a cultural bias. Indeed, they involve two terms,...
Consciousness & Emotion Book Series November 6, 2019 Michel Bitbol 2 citations
Abstract A theory of the central nervous system was formulated recently, in general thermodynamical terms. According to it, the function of a central nervous system, and more generally of living autopoietic units, is to minimize “surprise”. The nervous system fulfills its task, and the animal maintains its viability, by changing their inner organization or their ecological niche so as to...
Current Opinion in Psychology October 25, 2018 Claire Petitmengin, Martijn van Beek, Michel Bitbol et al. 163 citations
Numerous scientific studies are conducted on the neurophysiological effects of meditation practices and on the neural correlates of meditative states. However, very few studies have been conducted on the experience associated with contemplative practice: what it is like to meditate - from moment to moment, at different stages of different forms of practice - remains almost invisible in...
Intellectica. Revue de l'Association pour la Recherche Cognitive 2017 Claire Petitmengin, Martijn van Beek, Michel Bitbol et al. 3 citations
Dans notre société où l'intérêt pour la méditation Bouddhiste connaît un engouement considérable, de nombreuses études sont maintenant menées sur les effets neurophysiologiques de la pratique méditative, et sur les corrélats neurophysiologiques des états méditatifs. Mais très peu d'études ont été conduites sur l'expérience de la pratique contemplative : ce que vit le méditant, instant après...
NeuroQuantology February 22, 2008 Michel Bitbol 42 citations
Abstract: Six arguments against the view that conscious experience derives from a material basis are reviewed. These arguments arise from epistemology, phenomenology, neuropsychology, and philosophy of quantum mechanics. It turns out that any attempt at proving that conscious experience is ontologically secondary to material objects both fails and brings out its methodological and existential...