On a Physical Metatheory of Consciousness

Summary

A compelling idea posits that consciousness emerges from the same quantum principles governing the universe. By analyzing the conditions for quantum decoherence, researchers propose consciousness has a definable physical origin. This approach suggests a broad psycho-physical parallelism, where consciousness is naturally integrated into a wider physical picture, even on cosmological scales. This offers a positive, unified view, bridging fundamental physics (quant-ph) with the nature of awareness.

Abstract

We show that the modern quantum mechanics, and particularly the theory of decoherence, allows for formulating a sort of a physical metatheory of consciousness. Particularly, the analysis of the necessary conditions for the occurrence of decoherence, along with the hypothesis that consciousness bears (more-or-less) well definable physical origin, leads to a wider physical picture naturally involving consciousness. This can be considered as a sort of a psycho-physical parallelism, but on rather wide scales bearing some cosmological relevance.

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