Causal Set Quantum Gravity and the Hard Problem of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive September 16, 2022 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe paper develops Rafael D. Sorkin's proposal that the birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity, a partially ordered process, provides an objective physical correlate of the perception of time passing. It argues that a fully objective, external picture of this birth process is impossible because the order of birth is partial. The author proposes that live experience in causal set theory is an internal view of this objective process, where events that are neural correlates of consciousness occur. What animates a neural correlate of consciousness is the same process that animates the whole universe: the unceasing, partially ordered birth of spacetime atoms.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Gr-qc Hep-th Physics.hist-ph Quantum-consciousness Spacetime-emergence |
| Key finding | The partially ordered birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity provides an objective physical correlate of the perception of time passing, and this process animates neural correlates of consciousness. |
Abstract
I develop Rafael D. Sorkin's proposal that a partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms in causal set quantum gravity provides an objective physical correlate of our perception of time passing. I argue that one cannot have a fully objective, external picture of the birth process because the order in which the spacetime atoms are born is a partial order. I propose that live experience in causal set theory is an internal view of the objective birth process in which events that are neural correlates of consciousness occur. In causal set theory, what ``breathes fire'' into a neural correlate of consciousness is that which breathes fire into the whole universe: the unceasing, partially ordered process of the birth of spacetime atoms.