Evolution of Consciousness
The natural evolution of consciousness in different animal species mandates that conscious experiences are causally potent in order to confer any advantage in the struggle for survival. Any endeavor to construct a physical theory of consciousness based on emergence within the framework of classical...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/1/48 |
| _version_ | 1797343224132534272 |
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| author | Danko D. Georgiev |
| author_facet | Danko D. Georgiev |
| author_sort | Danko D. Georgiev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The natural evolution of consciousness in different animal species mandates that conscious experiences are causally potent in order to confer any advantage in the struggle for survival. Any endeavor to construct a physical theory of consciousness based on emergence within the framework of classical physics, however, leads to causally impotent conscious experiences in direct contradiction to evolutionary theory since epiphenomenal consciousness cannot evolve through natural selection. Here, we review recent theoretical advances in describing sentience and free will as fundamental aspects of reality granted by quantum physical laws. Modern quantum information theory considers quantum states as a physical resource that endows quantum systems with the capacity to perform physical tasks that are classically impossible. Reductive identification of conscious experiences with the quantum information comprised in quantum brain states allows for causally potent consciousness that is capable of performing genuine choices for future courses of physical action. The consequent evolution of brain cortical networks contributes to increased computational power, memory capacity, and cognitive intelligence of the living organisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:44:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c39ca1beec1940d9991be62bdb3b8e9d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:44:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-c39ca1beec1940d9991be62bdb3b8e9d2024-01-26T17:20:34ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-12-011414810.3390/life14010048Evolution of ConsciousnessDanko D. Georgiev0Institute for Advanced Study, 30 Vasilaki Papadopulu Str., 9010 Varna, BulgariaThe natural evolution of consciousness in different animal species mandates that conscious experiences are causally potent in order to confer any advantage in the struggle for survival. Any endeavor to construct a physical theory of consciousness based on emergence within the framework of classical physics, however, leads to causally impotent conscious experiences in direct contradiction to evolutionary theory since epiphenomenal consciousness cannot evolve through natural selection. Here, we review recent theoretical advances in describing sentience and free will as fundamental aspects of reality granted by quantum physical laws. Modern quantum information theory considers quantum states as a physical resource that endows quantum systems with the capacity to perform physical tasks that are classically impossible. Reductive identification of conscious experiences with the quantum information comprised in quantum brain states allows for causally potent consciousness that is capable of performing genuine choices for future courses of physical action. The consequent evolution of brain cortical networks contributes to increased computational power, memory capacity, and cognitive intelligence of the living organisms.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/1/48brain cortexcausal potencyconscious experiencequantum physicssentience |
| spellingShingle | Danko D. Georgiev Evolution of Consciousness Life brain cortex causal potency conscious experience quantum physics sentience |
| title | Evolution of Consciousness |
| title_full | Evolution of Consciousness |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of Consciousness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of Consciousness |
| title_short | Evolution of Consciousness |
| title_sort | evolution of consciousness |
| topic | brain cortex causal potency conscious experience quantum physics sentience |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/1/48 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dankodgeorgiev evolutionofconsciousness |