Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

A physical approach to qualia and the emergence of conscious observers in qualia space

Pedro Resende

TL;DR

Propounds a measurement-space model where qualia are directly tied to classical information generated by physical measurements, aligning with it-from-bit and panpsychism. It defines a qualia space ${\\mathcal Q}$ with a topology of concepts ${\\Omega}(\\mathcal Q)$ and develops operations such as composition, disjunction, and directed suprema, linking subjective experience to mathematical structure. The approach addresses the hard problem of consciousness and the quantum-measurement problem by positing emergent classical observers inside ${\\mathcal Q}$ and its related space ${\\mathcal S}$, and suggests psychophysical tests and AI implications. Overall, the work proposes a mathematically grounded bridge between consciousness and physics, with potential to inform both foundational physics and experimental cognitive science.

Abstract

I propose that qualia are physical because they are directly observable, and revisit the contentious link between consciousness and quantum measurements from a new perspective -- one that does not rely on observers or wave function collapse but instead treats physical measurements as fundamental in a sense resonant with Wheeler's it-from-bit. Building on a mathematical definition of measurement space in physics, I reinterpret it as a model of qualia, effectively equating the measurement problem of quantum mechanics with the hard problem of consciousness. The resulting framework falls within panpsychism, and offers potential solutions to the combination problem. Moreover, some of the mathematical structure of measurement spaces, taken for granted in physics, needs justification for qualia, suggesting that the apparent solidity of physical reality is deeply rooted in how humans process information.

A physical approach to qualia and the emergence of conscious observers in qualia space

TL;DR

Propounds a measurement-space model where qualia are directly tied to classical information generated by physical measurements, aligning with it-from-bit and panpsychism. It defines a qualia space with a topology of concepts and develops operations such as composition, disjunction, and directed suprema, linking subjective experience to mathematical structure. The approach addresses the hard problem of consciousness and the quantum-measurement problem by positing emergent classical observers inside and its related space , and suggests psychophysical tests and AI implications. Overall, the work proposes a mathematically grounded bridge between consciousness and physics, with potential to inform both foundational physics and experimental cognitive science.

Abstract

I propose that qualia are physical because they are directly observable, and revisit the contentious link between consciousness and quantum measurements from a new perspective -- one that does not rely on observers or wave function collapse but instead treats physical measurements as fundamental in a sense resonant with Wheeler's it-from-bit. Building on a mathematical definition of measurement space in physics, I reinterpret it as a model of qualia, effectively equating the measurement problem of quantum mechanics with the hard problem of consciousness. The resulting framework falls within panpsychism, and offers potential solutions to the combination problem. Moreover, some of the mathematical structure of measurement spaces, taken for granted in physics, needs justification for qualia, suggesting that the apparent solidity of physical reality is deeply rooted in how humans process information.
Paper Structure (19 sections, 2 theorems, 9 equations, 7 figures)

This paper contains 19 sections, 2 theorems, 9 equations, 7 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. Qualia and concepts
  4. Qualia.
  5. The space of qualia.
  6. Interdependence of qualia and concepts.
  7. Logical abstraction of qualia.
  8. Cognitive abilities
  9. Subjective time.
  10. Logical disjunctions of qualia.
  11. Insights.
  12. Interdependence of qualia and concepts revisited.
  13. Emergence of conscious agents
  14. Agents in qualia space.
  15. Basic qualia.
  16. ...and 4 more sections

Key Result

Proposition 5.1

$\Phi$ satisfies the properties Phi1, Phi2 and Phi3. Moreover, for each $x\in S$ the continuous map $f:S\to\operatorname{\Omega}(S)$ is given by any of the following expressions: And, defining $p:S\to\operatorname{\Omega}(S)$ by $p(x)=S-\overline{\{x\}}$, we have $f(x)\subset p(x)$ for all $x\in S$.

Figures (7)

  • Figure 1: A subset of Bob's qualia partially ordered by specificity.
  • Figure 2: Some qualia of an imaginary insect.
  • Figure 3: The concept $U$, represented by a triangle, is upwards closed in the specialization order of $\mathcal{Q}$.
  • Figure 4: Any concept $U$ containing $\alpha\vee\beta$ (the colored triangle) must contain the intersection of two concepts $V$ and $W$, each containing $\alpha$ and $\beta$, respectively.
  • Figure 5: When looking at a wall we receive information carried by photons reflected by the wall, which can only carry information about a region of the wall, no matter how small.
  • ...and 2 more figures

Theorems & Definitions (2)

  • Proposition 5.1
  • Theorem 5.2