The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is currently one of the most influential scientific theories of consciousness. Here, we focus specifically on a metaphysical aspect of the theory’s most recent version (IIT 4.0), what we may call its <i>idealistic ontology</i>, and its tension with a k...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1453 |
| _version_ | 1797573912124456960 |
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| author | Ignacio Cea Niccolo Negro Camilo Miguel Signorelli |
| author_facet | Ignacio Cea Niccolo Negro Camilo Miguel Signorelli |
| author_sort | Ignacio Cea |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is currently one of the most influential scientific theories of consciousness. Here, we focus specifically on a metaphysical aspect of the theory’s most recent version (IIT 4.0), what we may call its <i>idealistic ontology</i>, and its tension with a kind of <i>realism</i> about the external world that IIT also endorses. IIT 4.0 openly rejects the mainstream view that consciousness is generated by the brain, positing instead that consciousness is ontologically primary while the physical domain is just “operational”. However, this philosophical position is presently underdeveloped and is not rigorously formulated in IIT, potentially leading to many misinterpretations and undermining its overall explanatory power. In the present paper we aim to address this issue. We argue that IIT’s idealistic ontology should be understood as a specific combination of phenomenal primitivism, reductionism regarding <i>Φ</i>-structures and complexes, and eliminativism about non-conscious physical entities. Having clarified this, we then focus on the problematic tension between IIT’s idealistic ontology and its simultaneous endorsement of realism, according to which there is some kind of external reality independent of our minds. After refuting three potential solutions to this theoretical tension, we propose the most plausible alternative: understanding IIT’s realism as an assertion of the existence of other experiences beyond one’s own, what we call a <i>non-solipsistic idealist realism</i>. We end with concluding remarks and future research avenues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-793836c617df425a99f8df6412d22081 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-793836c617df425a99f8df6412d220812023-11-19T16:25:08ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002023-10-012510145310.3390/e25101453The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist IdealismIgnacio Cea0Niccolo Negro1Camilo Miguel Signorelli2Center for Research, Innovation and Creation, Temuco Catholic University, Temuco 4813302, ChileSchool of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 6997801, IsraelFNRS, GIGA Institute, University of Liege, Rue d’Egmont 5, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumIntegrated Information Theory (IIT) is currently one of the most influential scientific theories of consciousness. Here, we focus specifically on a metaphysical aspect of the theory’s most recent version (IIT 4.0), what we may call its <i>idealistic ontology</i>, and its tension with a kind of <i>realism</i> about the external world that IIT also endorses. IIT 4.0 openly rejects the mainstream view that consciousness is generated by the brain, positing instead that consciousness is ontologically primary while the physical domain is just “operational”. However, this philosophical position is presently underdeveloped and is not rigorously formulated in IIT, potentially leading to many misinterpretations and undermining its overall explanatory power. In the present paper we aim to address this issue. We argue that IIT’s idealistic ontology should be understood as a specific combination of phenomenal primitivism, reductionism regarding <i>Φ</i>-structures and complexes, and eliminativism about non-conscious physical entities. Having clarified this, we then focus on the problematic tension between IIT’s idealistic ontology and its simultaneous endorsement of realism, according to which there is some kind of external reality independent of our minds. After refuting three potential solutions to this theoretical tension, we propose the most plausible alternative: understanding IIT’s realism as an assertion of the existence of other experiences beyond one’s own, what we call a <i>non-solipsistic idealist realism</i>. We end with concluding remarks and future research avenues.https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1453consciousnessrealismidealismintegrated information theoryontology of consciousnessscientific metaphysics |
| spellingShingle | Ignacio Cea Niccolo Negro Camilo Miguel Signorelli The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism Entropy consciousness realism idealism integrated information theory ontology of consciousness scientific metaphysics |
| title | The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism |
| title_full | The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism |
| title_fullStr | The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism |
| title_short | The Fundamental Tension in Integrated Information Theory 4.0’s Realist Idealism |
| title_sort | fundamental tension in integrated information theory 4 0 s realist idealism |
| topic | consciousness realism idealism integrated information theory ontology of consciousness scientific metaphysics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/25/10/1453 |
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