A thought experiment on consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive October 30, 2003 preprint
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Physics.gen-ph Consciousness Quantum physics Mind-body problem |
| Key points | 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.