Self-consciousness and personal identity in quantum panprotopsychism
arXiv Preprint Archive May 13, 2025 Peer reviewed via arXiv
Summary
An ontology of quantum mechanics, framed within panprotopsychism, provides a compelling explanation for consciousness. It suggests that consciousness emerges from entangled quantum systems interacting with the brain's neural network. This perspective redefines self-consciousness as the ability to perceive oneself as an experiencer, emphasizing the autonomy and decision-making capabilities afforded by quantum systems. This approach also offers a novel understanding of personal identity, avoiding traditional issues found in reductive theories.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Consciousness arises from entangled quantum systems interacting with the brain, leading to self-consciousness and a new understanding of personal identity. |
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Abstract
In previous papers, we demonstrated that an ontology of quantum mechanics, described in terms of states and events with internal phenomenal aspects (a form of panprotopsychism), is well suited to explain consciousness. We showed that the combination problems of qualities, structures and subjects in panpsychism and panprotopsychism stem from implicit hypotheses based on classical physics regarding supervenience, which are not applicable at the quantum level. Within this view, consciousness arises in entangled quantum systems coupled to the neural network of the brain. In entangled systems, the properties of individual parts disappear, giving rise to an exponential number of emergent properties and states. Here, we analyze self-consciousness as the capacity to view oneself as a subject of experience. The causal openness of quantum systems provides self-conscious beings the ability to make independent choices and decisions, reflecting a sense of self-governance and autonomy. In this context, the issue of personal identity takes a new form free from the problems of the simple view or the reductive approaches.