Self-consciousness and personal identity in quantum panprotopsychism

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Gambini, Rodolfo, Pullin, Jorge
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Gambini, Rodolfo
Pullin, Jorge
author_facet Gambini, Rodolfo
Pullin, Jorge
contents In previous papers, we demonstrated that an ontology of quantum mechanics, described in terms of states and events with internal phenomenal aspects (a form of panprotopsychism), is well suited to explain consciousness. We showed that the combination problems of qualities, structures and subjects in panpsychism and panprotopsychism stem from implicit hypotheses based on classical physics regarding supervenience, which are not applicable at the quantum level. Within this view, consciousness arises in entangled quantum systems coupled to the neural network of the brain. In entangled systems, the properties of individual parts disappear, giving rise to an exponential number of emergent properties and states. Here, we analyze self-consciousness as the capacity to view oneself as a subject of experience. The causal openness of quantum systems provides self-conscious beings the ability to make independent choices and decisions, reflecting a sense of self-governance and autonomy. In this context, the issue of personal identity takes a new form free from the problems of the simple view or the reductive approaches.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_11530
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Self-consciousness and personal identity in quantum panprotopsychism
Gambini, Rodolfo
Pullin, Jorge
History and Philosophy of Physics
Neurons and Cognition
Quantum Physics
In previous papers, we demonstrated that an ontology of quantum mechanics, described in terms of states and events with internal phenomenal aspects (a form of panprotopsychism), is well suited to explain consciousness. We showed that the combination problems of qualities, structures and subjects in panpsychism and panprotopsychism stem from implicit hypotheses based on classical physics regarding supervenience, which are not applicable at the quantum level. Within this view, consciousness arises in entangled quantum systems coupled to the neural network of the brain. In entangled systems, the properties of individual parts disappear, giving rise to an exponential number of emergent properties and states. Here, we analyze self-consciousness as the capacity to view oneself as a subject of experience. The causal openness of quantum systems provides self-conscious beings the ability to make independent choices and decisions, reflecting a sense of self-governance and autonomy. In this context, the issue of personal identity takes a new form free from the problems of the simple view or the reductive approaches.
title Self-consciousness and personal identity in quantum panprotopsychism
topic History and Philosophy of Physics
Neurons and Cognition
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.11530