Consciousness and the Problem of Quantum Measurement

Summary

A new version of the von Neumann-Wigner interpretation of quantum mechanics replaces wave functions with a vector in Fock space, which is not a function of spacetime coordinates. Consciousness is modeled as a unitary state Q(t) that evolves alongside the physical world according to a common fiducial time. States of the world are classified as 'admissible' (corresponding to definite states of consciousness) or 'inadmissible' (not corresponding to any). The world's state vector always remains restricted to admissible states. Consciousness is treated as an 'M-Property' in Chalmers' sense. The authors argue that this model avoids problems with the quantum Zeno effect.

Study at a glance

Abstract

A variant of the von Neumann-Wigner Interpretation is proposed. It does not make use of the familiar language of wave functions and observers. Instead it pictures the state of the physical world as a vector in a Fock space and, therefore not, literally, a function of any spacetime coordinates. And, rather than segregating consciousness into individual points of view (each carrying with it a sense of its proper time), this model proposes only unitary states of consciousness, Q(t), where t represents a fiducial time with respect to which both the state of the physical world and the state of consciousness evolve. States in our world's Fock space are classified as either 'admissible' (meaning they correspond to definite states of consciousness) or 'inadmissible' (meaning they do not). The evolution of the state vector of the world is such as to always keep it restricted to 'admissible' states. Consciousness is treated very much like what Chalmers calls an "M-Property." But we try to show that problems with the quantum Zeno effect do not arise from this model.