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Article
A Conceptual Framework for Consciousness Based on a Deep Understanding of Matter
Author(s)
Joachim Keppler
Full-Text PDF XML 6438 Views
DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2012.10.001
Affiliation(s)
DIWISS
ABSTRACT
One
of the main challenges in consciousness research is widely known as the hard
problem of consciousness. In order to tackle this problem, I utilize an
approach from theoretical physics, called stochastic electrodynamics (SED),
which goes one step beyond quantum theory and sheds new light on the reality
behind matter. According to this approach, matter is a resonant oscillator that
is orchestrated by an all-pervasive stochastic radiation field, called
zero-point field (ZPF). The properties of matter are not intrinsic but acquired
by dynamic interaction with the ZPF, which in turn picks up information about
the material system as soon as an ordered state, i.e., a stable attractor, is
reached. I point out that these principles apply also to macroscopic biological
systems. From this perspective, long-range correlations in the brain, such as
neural gamma synchrony, can be interpreted in terms of order phenomena induced
and stabilized by the ZPF, suggesting that every attractor in the brain goes
along with an information state in the ZPF. In order to build the bridge to
consciousness, I employ additional input from Eastern philosophy. From a
comparison between SED and Eastern philosophy I draw the conclusion that the
ZPF is an appropriate candidate for the substrate of consciousness, implying
that information states in the ZPF are associated with conscious states. On
this basis I develop a conceptual framework for consciousness that is fully
consistent with physics, neurophysiology, and Eastern philosophy. I argue that
this conceptual framework has many interesting features and opens a door to a
theory of consciousness. Particularly, it solves the problem of how matter and
consciousness communicate in a causally closed functional chain, it gives a
physical grounding to existing approaches
regarding the connection between consciousness and information, and it
gives clear direction to future models and experiments.
KEYWORDS
consciousness, hard problem, quantum physics, stochastic electrodynamics, zero-point field, double-aspect principle, psychophysical laws, qualia
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