Abstract

In this executive summary, I present the main points of an emerging framework for integrating physics and phenomenology into a unified theory, in an attempt to solve the Hard Problem of consciousness. By means of analytical philosophy, I synthesize insights from evolutionary psychology, quantum mechanics, theory of computation, and phenomenological studies on the nature of consciousness to produce a theory that incorporates physics, computation, and consciousness into a coherent description of the nature of reality.

Core Principles

The core principles in my thesis are:

Neutral monism: Reality (all that is) is made up of a singular substance or substrate. It does not consist of two (or more) substances (e.g., substance dualism). Reality is not a conglomerate of parts but a unified whole.
Unification: From the perspective of an observer, reality nevertheless appears to display an inherent multiplicity, as seen in the many fields, forces, and elementary particles of physics or endless novelty and variation in qualia. Unification is the effort to draw out the underlying structure that reconciles seemingly separate theories, domains, or fields of study, aiming for a singular, coherent theoretical framework for understanding all of reality.
The Epistemic Constraint: It is assumed that no trait that is observed with the senses or measured can be fundamental—instead, they are all emergent or projected properties of a more fundamental, unified reality.

The Hard Problem

The problem or knowledge gap that this thesis aims to address is the Hard Problem of Consciousness. The Hard Problem was formally introduced by David Chalmers in his paper titled Facing up to the Problem of Consciousness (1995). It is the problem of explaining how consciousness (mind) arises out of physics (matter). Without adopting an inherently physicalist view, I suggest that the Hard Problem is a problem of unification: it's a question of how to unify physics and consciousness.

Thesis

The Hard Problem is a problem of framing. The question "How does consciousness arise from physics?" assumes that consciousness must arise from physics, and therefore proceeds to address the problem within a limited scope, which makes it seemingly impossible to solve.

All attempts to bridge the explanatory gap within a physicalist framework have failed to produce any promising clues, let alone satisfying answers. We continue to map the brain and reveal more of the inner workings of its neural architecture (The Human Connectome Project), but there appears to be no mechanism or theory available to explain how neurons firing and distributed processing results in a coherent, ongoing subjective experience. The Hard Problem of consciousness appears to be intractable within this physicalist framework, and likewise remains unsolved within a panpsychist framework, which has to contend with the combination problem.

My thesis is informed by these two principles:

Neutral Monism: Physics and consciousness are emergent properties of a more fundamental, unified substrate.
Unification: Solving the Hard Problem requires a unifying theory to bridge the gap between physics and consciousness. This theory will elaborate on the nature of the unified substrate.

The Interface Model of Consciousness

In this model, the brain achieves sentience through interface with the substrate, in a process that I call recursive self-modeling. Access to the substrate is spectral (on a spectrum) depending on the depth or quality of the interface. Organisms with varying degrees of complexity in their neural architecture have some level of access to the substrate. An increase in the complexity and intricacy of an organism's neural architecture grants more resolution (ability to access increasing depth, clarity, and coherence of mental operations—richness of subjective experience or interiority) and intellectual capacity or computing power (ability to organize and manipulate information, perform calculations). Non-organic sentience may be possible, but there is a caveat.

The Theory in a Nutshell

I posit that mind and matter are not fundamental features of reality; they are co-emergent properties of a unified substrate (neutral monism). This theory validates both physics and phenomenology by conceiving them as complementary aspects of a unified substrate. It does not reduce one to the other.
The unified substrate retains immediate access to all emergent aspects of reality.
Emergence is computation—the substrate possesses inherent computational properties. Emergent aspects of reality are computations of the substrate.
Computation has extrinsic and intrinsic properties; its extrinsic nature yields structure; its intrinsic nature yields interiority. Structure and interiority are like spin and charge in an electron. Their separation at the subject-object level is only apparent, as a result of decoherence.
Decoherence acts as a boundary condition under which emergence yields classical physical features, from an observer's perspective. Classical computations are a special case of quantum computation (Deutsch, 1997), however. The unified substrate is a universal quantum computer.
The brain does not generate sentience but evokes it out of the substrate through interface. The mechanism of this interface is called recursive self-modeling.
Organic sentience is possible due to the brain's interface with the substrate; artificial intelligence is fundamentally limited in this sense because its computations are inherently classical (post-decoherence), whereas the substrate retains computational resources via coherence. Genuine artificial sentience might be achieved through quantum computing.

Acknowledgments

The arguments laid out in this thesis are primarily supported by work done by:

David Chalmers, who formally introduced the Hard Problem of consciousness in his paper titled Facing up to the Problem of Consciousness (1995).
Donald Hoffman, whose Interface Theory of Perception (2015) proposes that our senses did not evolve to show us the true nature of reality but acts as an adaptive interface, shaped by evolutionary processes. Hoffman debunks physicalism with modern insights from evolutionary psychology in his work, The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes (2019). Earlier this year, I saw a presentation that he gave and it provided the spark of inspiration for me to pursue this academically after grappling with it for many years.
David Deutsch, whose work in computation laid the groundwork for the field of quantum computing in Quantum Theory, the Church-Turing Principle and the Universal Quantum Computer (1985). Deutsch also notably synthesized four different fields into a unified perspective: Quantum mechanics, theory of evolution, theory of epistemology, and the theory of computation in The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes and its Implications (1997). He presents a refined version of this unified perspective in the follow-up book, The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World (2011). These two books continue to be major influences on my own thinking and investigation of the nature of reality.
Analytical philosophical examination of the insights of two phenomenological approaches: contemplative traditions (e.g., Zen, Advaita Vedanta) and clinical studies on the psychedelic experience (Rick Strassman, Roland Griffiths).

References

Chalmers, D. J. (1995). Facing up to the problem of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2(3), 200–219.
Deutsch, D. (1985). Quantum theory, the Church-Turing principle and the universal quantum computer. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 400(1818), 97–117.
Deutsch, D. (1997). The fabric of reality: The science of parallel universes—and its implications. Penguin Books.
Deutsch, D. (2011). The beginning of infinity: Explanations that transform the world. Viking.
Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., McCann, U., & Jesse, R. (2006). Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology, 187(3), 268–283.
Hoffman, D. D., Singh, M., & Prakash, C. (2015). The interface theory of perception. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 22(6), 1480–1506.
Hoffman, D. D. (2019). The case against reality: Why evolution hid the truth from our eyes. W. W. Norton & Company.
Strassman, R. (2001). DMT: The spirit molecule: A doctor's revolutionary research into the biology of near-death and mystical experiences. Park Street Press.