Causal Set Quantum Gravity and the Hard Problem of Consciousness
Fay Dowker
arXiv Preprint Archive September 16, 2022 preprint
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Gr-qc Hep-th Physics.hist-ph Quantum-consciousness Spacetime-emergence Mind-matter-connection |
| Key points | Argues that the partially ordered birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity provides an objective physical correlate of the perception of time passing, and that live experience is an internal view of this birth process. |
Abstract
I develop Rafael D. Sorkin's proposal that a partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity provides an objective physical correlate of our perception of time passing. I argue that one cannot have a fully objective, external picture of the birth process because the order in which the spacetime atoms are born is a partial order. I propose that live experience in causal set theory is an internal view of the objective birth process in which events that are neural correlates of consciousness occur. In causal set theory, what ``breathes fire'' into a neural correlate of consciousness is that which breathes fire into the whole universe: the unceasing, partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms.
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