From mindless mathematics to thinking meat?
arXiv Preprint Archive July 27, 2017 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe essay argues that the theme of the 2017 FQXi essay contest, which invokes teleology, goals, aims, intentions, and consciousness in physics, is premature. Teleology is rarely useful in physics; the only mainstream example, black hole event horizons, has a mixed track record. The concepts of aims and intentions imply consciousness and open the mind-body problem, while the phrase "mindless mathematical laws" conflicts with the mathematical universe hypothesis. Because no good mathematical or physical theory of consciousness exists, the contest theme is unlikely to yield a resolution widely accepted in mathematics or physics communities.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Physics.hist-ph Philosophy of physics Foundations of physics Conceptual physics Metaphysics of physics |
| Key finding | The essay contest's theme is premature and unlikely to lead to a widely accepted resolution because no good mathematical or physical theory of consciousness yet exists. |
Abstract
Deconstruction of the theme of the 2017 FQXi essay contest is already an interesting exercise in its own right: Teleology is rarely useful in physics --- the only known mainstream physics example (black hole event horizons) has a very mixed score-card --- so the "goals" and "aims and intentions" alluded to in the theme of the 2017 FQXi essay contest are already somewhat pushing the limits. Furthermore, "aims and intentions" certainly carries the implication of consciousness, and opens up a whole can of worms related to the mind-body problem. As for "mindless mathematical laws", that allusion is certainly in tension with at least some versions of the "mathematical universe hypothesis". Finally "wandering towards a goal" again carries the implication of consciousness, with all its attendant problems. In this essay I will argue, simply because we do not yet have any really good mathematical or physical theory of consciousness, that the theme of this essay contest is premature, and unlikely to lead to any resolution that would be widely accepted in the mathematics or physics communities.