The Frontiers of Reality: From Space-Time to Consciousness and Beyond Flashcards
Encourage learners to think critically about the current state of knowledge in these fields
What is the “hard problem of consciousness”?
The hard problem of consciousness refers to the difficulty in explaining how subjective experiences (qualia) can arise from physical processes in the brain. It highlights the challenge of bridging the gap between objective, physical descriptions of the brain and the subjective, first-person experience of consciousness.
What is the “Planck scale”?
The Planck scale refers to the extremely small distances and times at which the effects of quantum mechanics and gravity become equally important. It is believed to be the scale at which the structure of space-time breaks down and becomes discrete or granular.
What is “loop quantum gravity”?
Loop quantum gravity is a theory that attempts to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity by proposing that space-time is made up of discrete, indivisible chunks or “loops” at the Planck scale. It suggests that space-time has a granular structure rather than being a smooth continuum.
What is the “anthropic principle”?
The anthropic principle is the philosophical consideration that observations of the universe must be compatible with the conscious and sapient life that observes it. It suggests that the universe’s ostensible fine-tuning may be a result of selection bias, as we can only observe universes that are capable of giving rise to us.
What is “quantum entanglement”?
Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which two or more particles become correlated in such a way that their quantum states cannot be described independently of each other, even when separated by large distances. This apparent “action at a distance” challenges our conventional notions of locality and causality.
What is the “simulation hypothesis”?
The simulation hypothesis proposes that our reality may be a computer simulation created by a more advanced civilization. This idea suggests that our universe, including our consciousness, could be running on a vast computational substrate.
What is “panpsychism”?
Panpsychism is the philosophical view that consciousness or mind is a fundamental feature of the universe, possessed by all physical entities to some degree. It suggests that consciousness is not limited to biological systems but is ubiquitous throughout the universe.
What is the “integrated information theory” (IIT) of consciousness?
Developed by Giulio Tononi, IIT proposes that consciousness arises from the integration of information in a system. It suggests that a system’s capacity for consciousness is related to its ability to integrate information, and that this capacity can be quantified using a measure called “phi.”
What is the “orchestrated objective reduction” (Orch OR) theory of consciousness?
Proposed by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff, the Orch OR theory suggests that consciousness arises from quantum computations in microtubules within neurons. It posits that these quantum processes are orchestrated by the dynamics of the cytoskeleton and that they give rise to the experience of consciousness.
What is the relationship between quantum mechanics and consciousness?
What is the relationship between quantum mechanics and consciousness?
Back: Some theories, such as the Orch OR theory, propose that quantum processes in the brain give rise to consciousness. Others, like the Von Neumann-Wigner interpretation, suggest that consciousness plays a role in the collapse of the quantum wave function. However, the exact relationship between quantum mechanics and consciousness remains a topic of ongoing research and debate.
