Proto-experiences and subjective experiences: classical and quantum concepts

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind
• Theoretical Physics
• Consciousness Studies

Background:

• Current theories of consciousness, such as reductive monism and substance dualism, face significant challenges.
• A novel framework is required to address the mind-body problem and the nature of subjective experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new hypothesis for consciousness, termed the proto-experience/subjective experience (PE-SE) framework.
• To propose that fundamental particles possess proto-experiences (PEs) as a phenomenal aspect alongside material properties.
• To explain the emergence of subjective experiences (SEs) in neural networks through co-evolution and neural Darwinism.

Main Methods:

• Hypothesizing that elementary particles (strings, fermions, bosons) have dual aspects: material (mass, charge, spin) and phenomenal (elemental proto-experiences).
• Proposing that elemental PEs are superimposed properties of particles and interactions, making matter a carrier of PEs.
• Postulating a co-evolution of matter and PEs into neural networks and neural-net PEs, with SEs emerging via non-algorithmic processes and neural Darwinism.

Main Results:

• Elementary particles, as carriers of superimposed PEs, appear as non-experiential material entities.
• Neural networks and their associated PEs (neural Darwinism) develop from matter and elemental PEs.
• Specificity of SEs arises from complex neural interactions dependent on factors like attention, working memory, and signal re-entry.

Conclusions:

• The PE-SE framework offers an alternative to existing consciousness theories, integrating reductive and non-reductive perspectives.
• This model complements current theories by bridging explanatory gaps in the causation of consciousness.
• The hypothesis suggests a unified view of matter and experience originating from fundamental particle properties.