Toy Models of Top Down Causation.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) October 27, 2020 DOI: 10.3390/e22111224 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA fascinating approach highlights how consciousness and material physics can mutually influence each other through higher-level structures. Using probabilistic toy models based on cellular automata, the exploration involved 100 simulations to illustrate these concepts. The findings suggest that integrating top-down causation could bridge quantum theory with classical physics or general relativity. This perspective aligns with a form of panprotopsychism, proposing that both consciousness and physical phenomena possess dual properties that interact dynamically, offering fresh insights into the nature of reality.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cellular automata Consciousness Panprotopsychism Top-down causation |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | Proposes that higher-level causal models may unify quantum theory with classical physics and support a panprotopsychist property dualism where consciousness and physics interact. |
Abstract
Models in which causation arises from higher level structures as well as from microdynamics may be relevant to unifying quantum theory with classical physics or general relativity. They also give a way of defining a form of panprotopsychist property dualism, in which consciousness and material physics causally affect one another. I describe probabilistic toy models based on cellular automata that illustrate possibilities and difficulties with these ideas.