A physical explanation for consciousness isn’t just a hard nut to crack. It’s a conceptual impossibility.
Phenomenal consciousness, unlike functional “consciousness,” isn’t definable in terms of physical processes.Science can’t explain why these processes don’t operate “in the dark,” without phenomenal consciousness.at the University of Lincoln. He is the author ofas well as academic articles on philosophy of mind,According to the standard model of physics, 61 elementary particles make up everything that exists: stars and planets, rocks and clocks, even human beings.
It’s relatively easy to explain how an arrangement of particles could be functionally conscious. That’s because a “function” can be defined in wholly physical terms. It’s just about particles moving in particular ways in response to stimuli. It involves nothing more experiential than, say, an automatic door. For this reason, the term “functional consciousness” is a bit of a misnomer.consciousness seems entirely possible, a physical explanation ofconsciousness will be far more difficult.
If we want to explain why water is a liquid at room temperature, we can say it’s because of the strength of the hydrogen bonds between HO molecules. The bonds are too weak to fix the molecules in place like in a solid, but strong enough to keep the molecules from spreading out as in a gas. This explanation works because there’s abetween the weakness of the hydrogen bonds and the macroscopic properties of liquidity, such as the way a liquid takes the shape of its container.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Explaining why new Buffalo Bills' WR is ideal fantasy football sleeper pickBuffalo Bills' wide receiver Curtis Samuel appears primed for a career year due to multiple factors.
Read more »
Identifying Hurricanes and Tropical Storms: Explaining key extreme weather termsHurricane Beryl is barreling through Texas Monday after devastating parts of Mexico and the Caribbean.The storm regained hurricane strength over the weekend as
Read more »
Explaining America’s Continued Economic ContradictionsSee multiple perspectives from New York Times (Opinion), Christian Science Monitor, and Washington Examiner at AllSides.com.
Read more »
Amid horror, America’s heart shines, explaining assassination bid to kids and other commentaryMoments after he’s shot, “Trump rises in sync with the agents, his face now smeared in blood,” recalls Salena Zito. “I hear him say, ‘Fight. Fight. Fight.’ He raises his fist in the air, pumping, i…
Read more »
Biden seeks to define his legacy in address explaining his campaign exitEven with the spotlight now on Vice President Harris as Democrats’ likely presidential nominee, Biden wants to show how he’ll be engaged until his term ends.
Read more »
Transcript: Biden's speech explaining why he withdrew from the 2024 presidential raceWASHINGTON (AP) — Transcript of President Joe Biden’s address to the nation on July 24, 2024: My fellow Americans, I’m speaking to you tonight from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Read more »