A Theoretical Solution of the Mind-Body Problem: An Operationalized Proof that no Purely Physical System Can Exhibit all the Properties of Human Consciousness

A necessary property of healthy human consciousness—self-certainty, the capacity to know with certainty that one is conscious—is inconsistent with any meaningful definition of a physical system. This is demonstrated through a no-go theorem applying to any physical system capable of sound and consistent human logical reasoning. The proof is general and recursive, showing that any physical process subserving such a function implies another such function. The authors conclude that for at least one aspect of human consciousness, the mind-body problem is now conclusively resolved.

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Abstract

This article presents an operationalized solution to the mind-body problem which relies on rigorously defined theoretical reasoning rather than philosophical argument. We identify a specific operation which is a necessary property of all healthy human conscious individuals -- specifically the operation of self-certainty, or the capacity of healthy conscious humans to "know" with certainty that they are conscious. This operation is shown to be inconsistent with the properties possible in any meaningful definition of a physical system. This inconsistency is demonstrated by proving a "no-go" theorem for any physical system capable of human logical reasoning, if this reasoning is required to be both sound and consistent. The proof of this theorem is both general -- it applies to any function whereby evidence affects the state of some physical system -- and recursive, since any physical process subserving a function of this type is shown to imply another such function. Thus for at least one aspect of human consciousness, the mind-body problem is now conclusively resolved.