Only consciousness truly exists? Two problems for IIT 4.0's ontology

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Mind
• Theoretical Neuroscience
• Consciousness Studies

Background:

• Integrated Information Theory (IIT) posits consciousness arises from integrated information.
• IIT 4.0 defines consciousness through specific mathematical axioms and postulates.
• The theory faces challenges in reconciling phenomenal and objective existence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present two novel ontological problems for Integrated Information Theory (IIT) 4.0.
• To analyze the implications of these problems for the theory's core tenets.
• To propose a reconsideration of the ontological status of non-conscious entities within IIT.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of IIT's ontological commitments.
• Development of thought experiments illustrating the "intrinsicality 2.0" and "engineering" problems.
• Examination of the relationship between phenomenal existence and objective reality in IIT.

Main Results:

• IIT 4.0 may permit conscious entities to depend on or be engineered from non-objectively existing entities.
• This dependency creates an ontological paradox: non-existent entities forming the basis of existent ones.
• The theory's equation of true existence with phenomenal existence leads to the exclusion of extrinsic entities from objective reality.

Conclusions:

• The presented problems suggest IIT needs to revise its stance on the objective existence of non-conscious (extrinsic) entities.
• Reconsidering the ontological status of extrinsic entities is crucial for resolving the identified paradoxes.
• IIT's framework requires adjustment to accommodate the objective reality of all physical entities, conscious or not.