Abstract.
Conscious experience is the only aspect of reality to which we have direct access, it is what all epistemology is based on. Yet, modern physics was built, from Galileo onward, by deliberately setting subjective experience aside in favour of strict mathematical quantites and objectiveness. The success of this strategy has been extraordinary, culminating in quantum theory, relativity and modern cosmology. This talk explores what happens when subjectivity is brought back into the conversation. Starting from the measurement problem and selected interpretations of quantum mechanics, including the Copenhagen interpretation, Wigner’s ideas, QBism and objective reduction (Penrose), I will discuss whether quantum theory has any plausible relevance for understanding consciousness. Particular attention will be given to why decoherence in the warm, wet and highly interconnected brain makes sustained macroscopic quantum coherence unlikely, thus, the transition from micro to macro systems and emergence of classicality make other frameworks necessary to approach consciousness.
From the perspective of contemporary neuroscience, I will briefly provide some anatomical basis of consciousness and how consciousness may be better understood through large-scale integration and predictive (Bayesian) coding in global networks rather than individual synapses, and how physicists are needed to approach some of these ideas. This lecture will play with ideas and thoughts, yet, treat them seriously and balanced and discuss their limitations. And to raise the questions/possibility that understanding of consciousness may belong in a complete picture of reality (theory of everything).
(The slides will be available here soon)