A thought experiment on consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive October 30, 2003 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe mind-body problem can be reformulated using a brain duplication argument. If consciousness arises solely from the physical organization of matter and energy, then duplicating a brain would require duplicating not just the brain itself but also its extensive interdependence with the entire surrounding physical world to produce the same conscious experience. This suggests that consciousness may depend on a broader physical context beyond the isolated brain.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Physics.gen-ph Consciousness Quantum physics Mind-body problem Neuroscience |
| Key finding | Argues that the brain duplication thought experiment implies the mind is extensively interdependent with the whole surrounding physical world in giving rise to consciousness. |
Abstract
The Mind-Body Problem, which constitutes the starting point for a large part of the speculations about consciousness and conscious experience, can be re-stated in an equivalent way, using the `brain duplication' argument described in this paper. If we assume that consciousness follows from a peculiar organization of physical matter and energy, namely that it does not transcend physical reality, then the brain duplication argument gives a possible interesting physical characterization of the mind: namely, a sort of extensive interdependence of the brain with the whole surrounding physical world in giving rise to consciousness.