CONSCIOUSNESS AND QUANTUM MECHANICS: OPTING FROM ALTERNATIVES

Consciousness is modeled as the fundamental capacity of any system to opt among presented alternatives, a property present in all systems to some degree. Quantum systems, composed of microphysical particles, possess this capacity in a protomental form, opting among alternatives without experience or communication. Human consciousness represents the most sophisticated form of this capacity, sharing the same fundamental characteristic with elementary matter. This model constitutes a modified panpsychism, where the property of opting among alternatives is common to humans and the constituents of matter.

Study at a glance

Abstract

We present a model of a fundamental property of consciousness as the capacity of a system to opt among presented alternatives. Any system possessing this capacity is “conscious” in some degree, whether or not it has the higher capacity of reflecting on its opting. We argue that quantum systems, composed of microphysical particles, as studied by quantum mechanics, possess this quality in a protomental form. That is, such particles display the capacity to opt among alternatives, even though they lack the ability to experience or communicate their experiences. Human consciousness stands at the opposite end of the hierarchy of conscious life forms as the most sophisticated system of which we have direct acquaintance. We contend that it shares the common characteristic of a system capable of opting among alternatives. Because the fundamental property of consciousness is shared by human beings and the constituents of elementary matter in the universe, our model of consciousness can be considered as a modified form of panpsychism.