Dialogues in Philosophy, Mental and Neuro Sciences

Crossing Dialogues

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Association

A Contemporary Approach to Philosophy of Consciousness: NanoPhysicalism

M E 1
,A E 2

1: Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir (Turkey)

2: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)

This work focuses on philosophical considerations of consciousness/mind, based on recent sparkling scientific
progresses, especially on neuroscience and quantum physics and tries to contribute to resolve the hard problem. Our
philosophical thesis assumes that consciousness/mind can be considered as a pure physical energy, appearing within
the physical brain and can fully be resolved by physical laws, philosophically leading to a novel approach. More
specifically, the approach assumes that consciousness is an open quantum information field and an epiphenomenon
of the brain, dynamically and instantly exchanges information as modulated physical energies/waves with cortical
neurons of the brain. According to our philosophical approach, the consciousness can be considered as a sub-nano
scale functional concept of the brain, hence the philosophical consideration could be named as ‘NanoPhysicalism’.
Keywords: Consciousness, Consciousness Philosophy, Dualism, Monism, Physicalism, Human Structure.
DIAL PHIL MENT NEURO SCI 2019; 12(2):53-64
INTRODUCTION
Scientists and philosophers have been trying ontologically, going far back to ancient
pretty hard to resolve the life, nature, self-struc- philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. As
ture and more specifically the soul or conscious- human thought, emotions, beliefs, perceptions and
ness/mind more than anything else (Descartes, memory appeared to be immaterial, conventional
1641/1985; Bohr, 1958, 1963; Heisenberg, 1958; philosophical approaches considered that
Bohm and Hiley, 1993; Appleby, 2013). Amongst consciousness or soul must actually be
others, the human structure is probably the most considered out of the positive scientific research.
complicated entity of all, due to be comprised This seems to be the huge obstacle in front of
of, so considered, both physical ‘body/brain’ any breakthrough on the route of resolving the
and ‘soul’ or more scientifically ‘consciousness’ consciousness. Consciousness/mind, under very
(James, 1878/1984, 1890). Surely the brain, but strong influence of idealism, is traditionally
especially the consciousness is certainly one of assumed to be an abstract concept and in reality
the most intricate concepts that seriously chal- completely disqualified from the scientific
lenges both the sciences and of course the phi- considerations. Researchers and philosophers
losophy (Lotka, 1925). In spite of extraordinary undoubtedly face hard questions regarding the
scientific developments, the human conscious- nature of the consciousness and the meaning
ness still stands one of the most complicated of the human being, seemingly constituted of
and mysterious concepts of the universe as ever. mental capacities and neural processes, two
Philosophical issues concerning the nature of the dimensions related to the classical duality of soul
consciousness are addressed by philosophy of and body (Descartes, 1641/1985). Perhaps the
consciousness and the mysterious emergence of most important problem of philosophy of mind
consciousness out of the brain/matter is known is the alleged distinction between the mental
as the mind-matter problem (Bass, 1975; Popper and the neural events and the second problem,
and Eccles, 1977; Pauen, 2001; Lonergan, 1992; on condition that the distinction is accepted, is
Henman, 2016) their causal mutual relationship. These two main
The mind-matter problem or philosophy of philosophical questions are answered differently
consciousness was conventionally considered by a series of standard positions: dualism,

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neutral monism, functionalism, emergentism existence of consciousness out of the physical

and non-reductive physicalism. Other problems, brain.
such as the relationship between neurobiology
and psychology, the scope of human freedom, MODELLING HUMAN STRUCTURE
the assessment of human behaviours in moral Complete resolution of human beings has,
concerns, the particular orientation given to in fact, been the burning issue of almost all
psychiatry or the focus of educational efforts, disciplines (Chalmers, 1996, Poehlman et. al.,
depend fundamentally on the answers given to 2012). Traditionally speaking, psychology,
these essential problems. psychiatry, neurosciences, cognitive sciences,
The current position of the philosophy of biology, physics, chemistry, sociology,
mind must be and is quite different due to philosophy are some of the disciplines work
achieving exceptional scientific discoveries to understand and resolve the human structure.
and developments. Consciousness, nowadays, In spite of some great efforts, pure scientific
is generally considered more epistemological, resolution of the human structure is not
posing its object of inquiry within scientific apportioned enough until recently and left
framework. Following Kant, metaphysics was behind the scope of the scientific activities.
viewed with suspicion while the natural sciences Hence, modelling the human structure could be
became more consolidated and capable of considered to be one of the most challenging
maintaining the pleasure of reality. Consequently, scientific activities of all (Eccles, 1973, 1994;
the classical philosophical problems had to be Rakovicć & Dugicć, 2002).
investigated in dialogue with the natural sciences The human structure, in general, can be
and sometimes in subordination to them. Its considered the most complicated entity due
topics are similar to those treated by the sciences, to primarily having physical body and also
such as neurobiology, computational science functioning very complicated activities such as
and cognitive psychology. The concepts, such thoughts, feelings, beliefs, preferences, decisions
as, perception, sensations, emotions, memory, and so on (Busemeyer et.al., 2006). In order to
language, thought and free will, are typically model the overall human structure, one has to
considered by psychology as well. Consequently, consider the physical body and of course the
nowadays, the philosophy of mind is quite environment that the physical body continuously
different compared with traditional approaches interacts with. Hence, overall human structure
in the sense that the matter is tackled in strapping model ought to be fundamentally comprised
relationship with the recent advances in certain of the environment and the physical body. The
sciences, namely neuroscience, computational actual physical body surely accommodates all
science, biology, chemistry, psychology, physics the systems, organs, tissues, vessels, muscles,
and especially quantum physics. Quantum bones etc. and of course the whole nervous
physics deals with any concept or mechanism system, including the physical brain.
somehow containing physical energy or matter The Nervous System is conventionally
in it, at nanoscales or below. In this sense, any divided into two main parts, namely Central
concept or mechanism occurring within the brain Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous
at subatomic scales can surely be considered as System (PNS). CNS is classically comprised
an issue of quantum physics. of the brain and the spinal cord. PNS, on the
The present work attempts to tackle the other hand, is comprised of somatic nervous
problem of consciousness/mind with the system and autonomic nervous system. The
sparkling lightings of the recent extraordinary model suggested in this communication is
scientific investigations. More specifically, dissimilar in the sense that the consciousness/
current promising and astonishing developments mind is completely separated from the brain and
on particularly neuroscience and quantum physics considered to be an epiphenomenon of the brain.
and indeed their obvious interconnections with Therefore, the overall model consists of four
the brain illuminates the mysterious issue of separate components namely, 1. consciousness/

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mind, 2. brain, 3. body and 4. environment. as follows (Behera et. al., 2004); For instance,
The Human Structure Model (HSM) suggested any image is provisionally detected by the retina
in this work considers the consciousness/ (sensory neurons) of the eyes by receiving the
mind as the ultimate control centre of the frequency modulated electromagnetic waves/
human structure. The brain is considered to photons/energy/information coming from the
be interconnected to the consciousness and environment. Following this, the information
functions as an interface between the mind and received by the eye is transmitted to the brain
the physical body. Consciousness/mind, in this by means of the neuron network within the
model, briefly receives any information/energy body. The information obtained by the brain
directly from the brain, processes and evaluates is received by the relating cortical neurons
the information and creates the responses, beliefs, and interacts with the water molecules within
thoughts, emotions, decisions and physical the cytoplasm and causes the creation of the
activities as well as the storing. The HSM Quantum Information Field (Jibu et. al., 1997).
works as follows; firstly, the body including the The Quantum Information Field is considered to
sensory system, the brain and the consciousness be equivalent to the consciousness/mind and is
receives the environmental information through the management centre of the human structure.
the sensory organs of the peripheral nervous The mind/consciousness, once receives the
system. The sensory organs all have some special information, immediately processes it in
sensory cells that receive the information/data/ accordance with the quantum mechanical laws
energy in different forms and convert the stimuli and decides what to do. Whatever the final
to pure electrical action potentials and finally to decision, it is conducted to the brain and the
quantized electromagnetic fields. The sensory brain fulfils the order (Chacraverty, 2010).
information is transmitted directly either to the
brain or to the spinal cord. The stimuli arriving SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO BRAIN-
the spinal cord create the reflex activities. Those CONSCIOUSNESS PHENOMENA
information/data depending on the source at In spite of extraordinary scientific
the visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory and achievements especially on neuroscience and
somatic sensory reach to the brain as quantised neuroimaging techniques, the emergence of
electromagnetic fields creates the vital conscious consciousness and origin of thoughts, feelings,
activities. The brain as an interface between the emotions and indeed behaviours have not been
body and mind/consciousness build the quantum resolved so far. Fundamental reason of that, to
information field which is considered to be the our judgement, is that the main disciplines, such
actual consciousness/mind. The consciousness/ as psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and also
mind is presumed as the ultimate control centre philosophy, have tried to resolve it independently.
of the human beings’ processes that information, Additionally, the so-believed supernatural
initiates the responses, produces thoughts, structure of brain, ethical regulations, the
emotions and decisions and also creates the complexity of doing experiments, the common
memory and stores the information (Busemeyer belief that mind and brain have nothing to
et.al., 2006). The response of the mind to the do with each other, also disallowed scientific
environmental information is realized through improvements to any extend (Lotka, 1925).
the brain and the spinal cord right to the Neuroscience has traditionally been trying to
motor neurons. The motor neurons transfer the resolve the brain as a pure physical substance by
information to either somatic nervous system trying to explore the individual neurons, neuron
or the autonomic nervous system in order to groups and their interconnections. A great deal
perform voluntary and autonomy activities of of knowledge is today known about neurons, the
the body (Poehlman et. al., 2012). Suggested primary mediator, which carries electrical signals
Human Structure Model (HSM) is given by the to and from between world outside and our brain
figure 1. According to this model, for example, an inside (Amid D, 1989). The human brain has
image processing mechanism is simply realised about 1011 nerve cells/neurons, approximately

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3,5.106 km of axons that transmit the signal and the consciousness. In the last thirty years or so,
about 1015 synapses, the switch that connects physics has enlarged its influence to unexpected
one neuron with another. Knowledge about the disciplines like biology, finance, sociology,
physiology and the architecture of neurons and psychology and neuroscience. The fundamental
their dendrites and axons with synapses have assumption underneath of those approaches is
developed enormously over the years (Pribram, that, the physical laws governing the material
1966, 1991). It is now steadily known that behind universe more like seem to be governing the
every single set of feeling, sensation, thought phenomena other than the physical universe. In
or action, an ensemble of neurons is involved. this sense physics or more specifically quantum
Hence, there is no reason to live in the twilight physics has enormous potentials to resolve the
of Cartesian duality of relegating brain in some emergence of consciousness, considering that
physical space and mind elsewhere in some scientific progress leads to the conclusion that
mental space (Eccles, 1973). Over the years, there consciousness is, in fact, kind of physical energy.
has been a huge amount of neuroscientific work The philosophical approach, offered in this
revolving around the theory of neural networks work, is based on the recent scientific research
and dynamical systems (Hopfield, 1982, Behera and two fundamental hypothesises are estab-
et.al., 2004), however these approaches all lished, leading philosophically to physicalism
have the congenital difficulty of never giving or more specifically Nano-Physicalism. Hypoth-
emergence of the consciousness (Zhang, 2011). esis 1-Consciousness/mind is a purely physical
Traditionally, psychology and psychiatry, concept/energy, more specifically a dynamic
independently from the neuroscientific efforts, open quantum information field, constructed by
deal with the consciousness by only assuming the brain’s cortical neurons and instantly var-
it as an ‘abstract’ concept. The question of, ied by the sum of the sensory inputs. Hypothesis
how the consciousness operates, has been 2-Brain and mind/consciousness are in fact iden-
an important misery of psychologists and tical/inseparable concepts at subatomic scales
psychiatrists over the centuries and even the and the mind/consciousness is epiphenomena of
millennia (Churchland, 1988; Appleby, 2013). the brain so there is no mind-matter problem as
The methodology employed, natural restrictions such.
and no cooperation with other disciplines, have The scientific research focusing on the
been preventing the psychology and psychiatry resolution of brain and consciousness by using
to achieve substantial progress. classical physical laws achieved incredible
Noticeably, with the advances of science and progress on brain but almost nothing on the
technology, the problem of consciousness has mind/consciousness (Parent & Carpenter, 1995;
gone beyond these disciplines and has become Ricciardi & Umezawa, 1967). The reason of
one of the most attracted topics in science that is the consideration of the consciousness
recently. Nowadays, the question encompasses as a non-physical concept by the physicists.
diverse fields such as psychology, philosophy, According to physicists, a physical concept has
biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, to be comprised of either energy or matter and
artificial intelligence and especially physics. it has to be a concrete concept that is purely
Physics strictly deals with the concrete systems, measurable. This is the vital and critical condition
comprised of infinitesimal particles and physical to consider the consciousness as a physical entity
energies, spatially ranging from enormous by the physicists.
galaxies to sub-nano scales and subatomic Historically, the first weak signals on quantum
particles. Scientific methodology of physics is mechanics and consciousness connection was
firmly defined and based distinctly on observations firstly suggested by great physicist von Neumann
and of course experimental measurements. (Neumann, 1932). Immediately after Neumann,
Nowadays, there is almost no border line that two of the founders of the quantum physics,
is forbidden to the methodology of physical namely Bohr and Schrödinger, focused on the
investigation, to bring a unifying framework to quantum systems, measurement of a physical

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quantity and the interaction of the observer observables are derived as dynamical output
that is the human consciousness (Bohr, 1958; from their interaction. In the quantum model
Schrödinger, 1935). Some 25 years later, another of Ricciardi & Umezawa, the elementary
great quantum physicist, Heisenberg, supported constituents are not the neurons and the other
the fascinating view of mind-matter interaction cells and physiological units, which cannot
or more specifically the interaction of quantum be considered as quantum objects but some
system and the observer during the measurement dynamical variables, called corticons, able to
(Heisenberg, 1958). The measurement problem describe stationary or quasi-stationary states
is, by the time being, has become one of the of the brain (Ricciardi & Umezawa, 1967).
most difficult paradoxes of quantum mechanics Penrose, in 1986, suggested that consciousness
and handled by many great quantum physicists could not have been functioned in accordance
including Wigner and Bohr (Bohr, 1928; with the principles of classical physics. This view
Wigner, 1961, 1963). They all underlined that would reaffirm the conclusion of von Neumann
the observer/mind could have some influence on formulation of quantum theory that is a conscious
the quantum measurements. human being behaves in ways that a classical
Meanwhile, extraordinary scientific progresses mechanical model cannot fulfil (Penrose, 1986,
on brain imaging techniques, with solid support 1989, 1994). Concerning the consciousness,
of physical inventions, the disciplines such about 6 years later, Penrose together with
as neurosciences, cognitive sciences, neuro- Hameroff suggested subjective wave function
psychiatry recorded immense progress. More reduction or more specifically orchestrated
importantly, great developments on particularly objective reduction model, happening in the
physics and extraordinary influences of the microtubules of the neurons (Penrose,1989;
quantum theory on other disciplines open Hameroff and Penrose, 1996). The model later
novel exciting scientific spines to go through. criticized seriously but most profoundly by
Nowadays not all but quite a number of quantum Tegmark (Tegmark, 2000). Marshall (1989)
physicist, neuroscientist, psychiatrists and realised that Bose-Einstein Condensation could
biologists are aware of the scientific connection be a reality in brain functioning and responsible
of quantum physics and life or living organisms for the unified and singular structure of the
(Penrose, 1989,1994, Abbot et. al., 2008; Eisert consciousness (Inouye et. al, 1999). One of
and Wiseman, 2007, Arndt et. al., 2009, Isart, the most radical suggestions came from Stapp
2010, Erol, 2010a, 2010b). in 1991, based on the pioneering view of
The primary noteworthy work on quantum von Neumann on the measurement problem.
physics and brain was due to Physicist Bohm and Stapp assumed that the only reality actually is
Neuroscientist Pribram, and they were involved the human consciousness and only conscious
in the early development of the holographic brain actions results in the wave function collapse
(Pribram, 1966, 1969; Bohm, 1951). Holographic (Stapp, 1991,1993, 2001). In 1990, Eccles
approach assumes that the processing occurs in offered that mind and brain interconnected with
dendrites, as well as in the dynamic electrical a physical quantum field and the brain functions
fields that surround these dendrites and can be modelled with field quanta of psychon
processing trees can influence what occurs in (Eccles, 1990). Later together with Beck, they
the trees of nearby neurons whose dendrites are offered quantum tunnelling of Pychons through
entangled even if the neurons are not in direct the synaptic connections causing the coherence
connection. In this way, processing in the brain of the wave functions (Beck & Eccles, 1992).
can occur in a non-localized manner. In 1967, Jibu and Yasue have proposed to interlace the
Ricciardi and Umezawa suggested that brain ideas of Pribram and Umezawa into a unified
functions could be the result of a Brain Quantum quantum theory of brain dynamics. Their theory
Field and have thus proposed a quantum model takes the substrate associated with Umezawa’s
where the elementary constituents of the brain views to be the water that pervades the brain.
exhibit coherent behaviour and macroscopic Excitations of certain states of the water system

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are called corticons, super radiance of evanescent the information, integration, independence,
photons, and they interact with photons in the dynamics and utility principles. More recently,
electromagnetic fields of the dendritic network. regarding physics and problems of reality are
They say: “With the help of quantum field tackled by Quinn’s recent books, entitled by
theory, we have found that the creation and “The Pre- Dawning of Functional Specialization
annihilation dynamics of corticons and photons in Physics” and by “Invitation to Generalized
in the quantum brain dynamics system in the sub Empirical Method in Philosophy and Science”
microscopic world of the brain to be the entity (Quinn, 2017a and 2017b).
we call consciousness or mind” (Jibu & Yasue,
1995, 1997). The quantum model of the brain DEFINITION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
proposed by Ricciardi & Umezawa is extended The scientific efforts summarised previously
to dissipative dynamics in order to study the in fact clearly shows that the concept of
problem of memory capacity by Vitiello. In his consciousness/mind devotes essentially a
work, it is shown that infinitely many vacuum is parallel situation as with the term of energy
accessible to memory printing in a way that in in physics. Therefore, it is quite reasonable
sequential information recording the storage of a to ask whether it is possible to make a similar
new information does not destroy the previously approach with consciousness/mind, because the
stored ones, thus allowing a huge memory energy in physics is described as the capacity of
capacity. The mechanism of information printing doing work against some resistance. Similarly,
is shown to induce breakdown of time-reversal consciousness is surely associated with the
symmetry (Vitiello, 1995, 2001, Freeman & capacity of being aware of and capacity of doing
Vitiello, 2006, 2008). In 2009, Stapp realized something. The degree of awareness actually
that Quantum Zeno Effect could be very effective represents the measure of consciousness just
in consciousness operations and described a like the amount of actual work gives the measure
quantum Zeno effect based mechanism that of energy. The definition of the consciousness/
allows conscious intentions to influence brain mind is essentially very crucial to start the
activity in a functionally appropriate way. The resolution from the appropriate position. Many
robustness of offered mechanism in the face disciplines, in the history/literature, described the
of environmental decoherence effects is also consciousness/mind by focusing on completely
emphasized (Stapp, 2009, Misra & Sudarshan, different and intangible properties of the concept,
2008). Recently, Chacraverty had set up the hence there seems to be a serious chaotic
human brain as a quantum field of information situation (Walker, 1970; Schwartz et. al., 2005;
in the cognitive functional space of the mind. Pribram, 1991). Considering all the work above
A quantum self-operator is introduced which and the consciousness as a pure materialistic
will create information like particles-infons and entity or physical energy leads to more scientific
generate a coherent macroscopic information following definition; Consciousness is the
field (Chacraverty, 2010). He also establishes dynamic self-awareness concept, constructed
consciousness as the causal cognitive response by the Brain’s cortical neurons as a quantum
function of brain or a susceptibility to the information field that continuously receives
external world. Finally, Tegmark has launched information/energy from the brain, evaluates
a more fundamental approach by considering and processes the information and initiates the
consciousness as a state of matter (Tegmark, responses.
2014). He specifically examines the hypothesis
that consciousness can be understood as a NANOPHYSICALISM
state of matter, perceptronium, with distinctive General remarks and scientific efforts briefly
information processing abilities. In his work, summarised previously, indicates a novel sort of
he explores some basic principles that may philosophical approach to the problem, in this
distinguish conscious matter from other physical sense, it would be quite plausible to recapitulate
systems such as solids, liquids and gases: the traditional theses beforehand. Traditionally

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speaking two distinct approaches, namely or by common sense. It is very intuitive to

materialism and idealism, tries to resolve the experience our thoughts, feelings and decisions
structure of consciousness at top. Mechanism/ as something radically different from spatial
Physicalism, by the time being, is developed material objects. Finally, dualism can be argued
under the influence and guidance of materialism and explained in philosophical terms. In spite of
and manifests that ‘everything could in principle the various philosophical accounts of the soul-
be resolved by means of scientific research’ body or mind-brain duality, dualism is a strong
because of being solely ruled by the natural/ and persistent conviction held by many people
physical laws. Vitalism, on the other hand, since it corresponds to direct knowledge, or to
is developed by the influence of idealism, what could be nominated the common sense
assuming that ‘everything and of course perspective. Even the most rigorous materialists
consciousness could never fully be resolved’ cannot avoid to experience of thoughts and
because a ‘super natural existence’ does not consciousness. The efforts made to reduce
allow to do so. Epistemologically considering, all reality to material reality are normally
two individual theses spend effort to resolve the too complicated. They must be argued again
brain-consciousness mystery, namely monism and again, struggling against what constantly
and dualism. reappears in common language and implicit
The ordinary position for stylish negotiations belief. For example, think of the paradox of
of the brain-consciousness problem is due to saying: “I think that this I does not exist”.
Descartes’ dualism (Descartes; 1641/1985), Historically, Descartes’ famous Cartesian
claiming that the human person is constituted by Dualist thesis was criticized by monist
two kind of realities; one material and the other approaches. An early fundamental character of
spiritual. Ontologically conceived ‘dualism’ or the monist view is Spinoza. Spinoza’s monism
known as cartesian dualism, assumes existence provides a fashionable and strong sense in
of two separate entities namely, the brain and which mind and matter are connected to a
the consciousness. Additionally, two main ‘unity of essence’. It does so by concatenating
forms of dualism are substance dualism and an ontological monism with an epistemological
property dualism. In substantial dualism, the dualism, yielding a commonly worldview in
spiritual reality, known as the soul, spirit or which both philosophy and the sciences can
the consciousness, moves and guides the body, expand mutual relations. This framework began
but it can also be affected by the latter. There to be explicitly exploited in the mid 19th century,
is also the possibility of interaction between the by both philosophers and scientists and today we
soul and the body. Such a duality is attributed can identify three central reactions to Spinozism,
to animals and even to plants by Aristotle. called dual-aspect monism, neutral monism and
If the body and the soul are not understood physicalism.
as substances, they can at least be viewed in Dual-aspect monism (idealist/vitalist
terms of properties, as is elaborated in property approach) expresses that only thought truly
dualism. This kind of dualism considers a group exists and matter is merely an illusion. The
of human actions processes and operations as aspects are not a priori given, but depend on
material because they are empirically verifiable, epistemic issues and contexts. Distinctions
whereas others, such as thoughts, intentions, and of aspects are generated by epistemic splits of
emotions, are categorized as immaterial because the distinction free, no separated underlying
they are experienced as qualia, completely domain and in principle there can be as many
deprived of material properties. Similar to aspects as there are contexts. Moreover, for dual-
the assertion of substantial dualism, here it is aspect monists, this domain is apprehensible
claimed that spiritual operations move or guide only indirectly by its manifestations in the
bodily processes: a human agent as such, him or aspects. Some of the historical representatives
herself, wants to move the hand and thus moves of dual-aspect monism are Spinoza, Fechner and
it. Dualism can be held either phenomenological Schopenhauer. A number of scientists, notably

60 DIAL PHIL MENT NEURO SCI 2019; 12(2): 53-64

physicists and psychologists have explored the (Conte et.al., 2009). This point of view claims that
dual-aspect route since the mid 20th century it is both necessary and sufficient to explore and
such as, Wolfgang Pauli, Carl Gustav Jung, understand the material domain, the brain, in order
David Bohm, Basil Hiley, Bernard d’Espagnat, to understand the mental domain, consciousness/
Hans Primas and Max Velmans. mind (Lewis, 1994; Block, 1980,1995). This
Neutral monism, on the other hand, expresses is why physicalism is reductionist since it is
that the mental and the physical considerations committed to the effort of reducing the entity
are two ways of organizing or describing the to something material. Physicalism typically
same elements, which are themselves neutral consider that a thought is nothing other than
that is, neither physical nor mental. This view a neural circuit and that this circuit ought to
denies that the mental and the physical are two explain the existence of the thought. This
fundamentally different things. Rather, neutral epistemological procedure must obviously
monism claims the universe consists of only one be based on neuroscientific observations and
kind of stuff, in the form of neutral elements that specifically on physical principles. The reason
are in themselves neither mental nor physical. that sustains the widespread materialistic
Some supporters are Baruch Spinoza, David belief is mainly epistemological. Physics deals
Hume, Ernst Mach, Richard Avenarius and with matter or energy and spatio-temporal
Joseph Petzolt. The reduction of mental acts to phenomena and concepts, ultimately measurable
neurobiological processes might seem a more by empirical procedures, which are based upon
promising proposal. Perceptions, sensations, what can be detected by external senses or by
feelings, and conscious or unconscious cognitive instruments of observation. Therefore, non-
states normally show a clear neural basis. The observable or measurable entities as such will
acts of vision, touching, smelling, and the others never exist, though they could be postulated as
associated with the senses can be described and instrumental logical devices, such as physical
explained in neurological terms. It can be claimed laws or mathematical spaces, capable of
at least that mental acts have always some explaining physical phenomena. The physical
correlative kind of neural acts or states. This kind universe of discourse −the world as is viewed
of correspondence is often considered under the by physics− here is understood as closed or
category of supervenience. The correspondence exclusive. Nothing can be postulated outside of
between both dimensions must be defined in this framework. Of course, it can be said that the
very precise terms, which is not an easy matter. world as it is seen by physics a series of properties
Neurologist monism claims that a psychological concerning mass, energy, space, time etc. as a
act is nothing more than a neurobiological event. methodological choice for the explanation of
This position seems to be similar to what is all phenomena. In this sense physics, in fact, is
called naturalism and can be seen as the most capable of resolving anything that is comprised
frequent version of naturalism. There is no doubt of matter or indeed energy.
that the neurological dimension of psychological Recent theoretical and experimental
acts is essential, but it can also be demonstrated discoveries and progress on neuroscience and
that it is partial. To perceive, to be conscious, is more importantly on contemporary physics or
not exactly the same as a purely neural event. quantum physics surely opens novel approaches
Physicalism or Mechanism is the other relating the philosophy of consciousness. Some
fundamental philosophical approach to resolve of the quantum physical work focusing on the
the mind-matter problem and principally holds brain, consciousness and of course on the brain-
that consciousness consists of certain matter consciousness interconnection is summarised
systematized in a particular way (Neurath, previously. Extraordinary developments on
1931/1983; Carnap, 1932/1959). This stance of neuroscientific imaging techniques surely points
strong reduction claims that all conscious states out that the conscious states and neuroscientific
and properties can be reduced to the material states are simply parallel in real-time manner
domain that means to the energy and to physics and mutually and scientifically influence each

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