Qualia & Natural Selection: Formal Constraints on the Evolution of Consciousness

This paper derives formal conditions under which structural systems subject to natural selection can convey consistent effects in a qualitative domain, placing constraints on theories of consciousness. Information-theoretic measures quantify the mutual determinability and fidelity between structure and quality. These fidelities are incorporated into the Price Equation to yield bounds on the transmission of selective effects between domains. Higher-order structural transmission is also explored. A companion paper, Structure & Quality, provides broader philosophical context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper explores foundational questions about the relationship of qualia to natural selection. The primary result is a derivation of specific formal conditions under which structural systems subject to natural selection can convey consistent effects in an associated qualitative domain, placing theoretical and empirical constraints on theories of consciousness. In order to achieve this result, information-theoretic measures are developed to quantify the mutual determinability between structure and quality, quantifying fidelity between the two domains. The fidelities represented by that space are then incorporated into the Price Equation to yield key bounds on the transmission of selective effects between domains. Finally, transmission of higher-order structures between domains is explored. Placement within a broader philosophical context can be found in the companion paper Structure & Quality.