The main problems of consciousness
CRC Press eBooks December 6, 2017 DOI: 10.1201/9780203732519-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that seven problems of consciousness—including the physical boundary, binding, causal potency, free will, inner privacy, and hard problems—clash with classical physics and lead some philosophers to defend theories that contradict introspective testimony. Proposes this portfolio as a testing ground for classical or quantum information theory, and asserts that free-will agents remain morally responsible for their choices regardless of emotional state or foresight. |
Abstract
This chapter introduces seven long-standing problems of consciousness that seriously clash with the principles of classical physics and force some philosophers to defend flawed theories of consciousness that contradict our own introspective testimony. The problems are the physical boundary problem, the binding problem, the causal potency problem, the free will problem, the inner privacy problem, the hard problem. The portfolio of seven problems does not aim to be an exhaustive list of all problems related to consciousness, but rather to provide a fertile ground for testing the applicability of classical or quantum information theory to consciousness. The folding of the brain cortex allows a greater surface area to be compacted in the limited volume confined by the skull. Agents with free will are always morally responsible for their choices regardless of the emotional status they were in while making the choices or whether they were intelligent enough to foresee how their actions may have caused suffering to others.