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The philosophy of consciousness, ‘deep’ teleology and objective selection

Abstract

We consider systems in which forces and selection (or ‘reduction’) procedures cooperate to determine present states. Forces work on the immediate past of a system and determine a set of possible states. Selection works in the immediate future and selects one of these states as the actual state of the system. Selection can be constrained in terms of a criterion not reducible to the forces operating on the system. It is shown that the performance of different types of procedures increases when this type of teleology is inserted. This is illustrated with an example from the cognitive domain and with examples that belong to the context of generative art. More fundamentally, it is conjectured that, given the complexity of our universe, selection can operate systematically without leading to replicable violation of physical laws. The relation between selection and the philosophy of consciousness is discussed.

Abstract

We consider systems in which forces and selection (or ‘reduction’) procedures cooperate to determine present states. Forces work on the immediate past of a system and determine a set of possible states. Selection works in the immediate future and selects one of these states as the actual state of the system. Selection can be constrained in terms of a criterion not reducible to the forces operating on the system. It is shown that the performance of different types of procedures increases when this type of teleology is inserted. This is illustrated with an example from the cognitive domain and with examples that belong to the context of generative art. More fundamentally, it is conjectured that, given the complexity of our universe, selection can operate systematically without leading to replicable violation of physical laws. The relation between selection and the philosophy of consciousness is discussed.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Biological feasibility of quantum approaches to consciousness 1
  5. The Natural Philosophy and Physics of Consciousness 63
  6. Quantum Brain Dynamics and Consciousness 83
  7. Neuropsychological Investigations 117
  8. What is consciousness? 145
  9. Thinking together quantum brain dynamics and postmodernism 175
  10. Consciousness and non-hierarchical physics 191
  11. Time and the Laws of Nature 219
  12. Matter, Mind and the quantum 227
  13. What is it not Like to be a Brain? 257
  14. On the nature of anamalous phenomena 269
  15. The philosophy of consciousness, ‘deep’ teleology and objective selection 293
  16. Name index 313
  17. Subject index 317
The Physical Nature of Consciousness
This chapter is in the book The Physical Nature of Consciousness
https://doi.org/10.1075/aicr.29.13van

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Biological feasibility of quantum approaches to consciousness 1
  5. The Natural Philosophy and Physics of Consciousness 63
  6. Quantum Brain Dynamics and Consciousness 83
  7. Neuropsychological Investigations 117
  8. What is consciousness? 145
  9. Thinking together quantum brain dynamics and postmodernism 175
  10. Consciousness and non-hierarchical physics 191
  11. Time and the Laws of Nature 219
  12. Matter, Mind and the quantum 227
  13. What is it not Like to be a Brain? 257
  14. On the nature of anamalous phenomena 269
  15. The philosophy of consciousness, ‘deep’ teleology and objective selection 293
  16. Name index 313
  17. Subject index 317
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