The evolution of consciousness

Stapp, H P

Title: The evolution of consciousness

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Abstract

It is argued that the principles of classical physics are inimical to the development of an adequate science of consciousness. The problem is that insofar as the classical principles are valid consciousness can have no effect on the behavior, and hence on the survival prospects, of the organisms in which it inheres. Thus within the classical framework it is not possible to explain in natural terms the development of consciousness to the high-level form found in human beings. In quantum theory, on the other hand, consciousness can be dynamically efficacious: quantum theory does allow consciousness to influence behavior, and thence to evolve in accordance with the principles of natural selection. However, this evolutionary requirement places important constraints upon the details of the formulation of the quantum dynamical principles.

Authors:: Stapp, H P

Publication Date:: Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 1996

Research Org.:: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 442188

Report Number(s):: LBNL-39241; CONF-9604156-2
ON: DE97000969

DOE Contract Number:: AC03-76SF00098

Resource Type:: Conference

Resource Relation:: Conference: 1996 toward a science of consciousness, Tucson, AZ (United States), 8-13 Apr 1996; Other Information: PBD: 16 Aug 1996

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 66 PHYSICS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; INFORMATION; CLASSICAL MECHANICS; HISTORICAL ASPECTS; EVALUATION; PSYCHOLOGY; SCHROEDINGER EQUATION; HEISENBERG PICTURE

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                    Stapp, H P. The evolution of consciousness.  United States: N. p., 1996. 
        Web.

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                    Stapp, H P. The evolution of consciousness.  United States.

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                    Stapp, H P. 1996.  
        "The evolution of consciousness".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/442188.

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@article{osti_442188,

  title        = {The evolution of consciousness},

  author       = {Stapp, H P},

  abstractNote = {It is argued that the principles of classical physics are inimical to the development of an adequate science of consciousness. The problem is that insofar as the classical principles are valid consciousness can have no effect on the behavior, and hence on the survival prospects, of the organisms in which it inheres. Thus within the classical framework it is not possible to explain in natural terms the development of consciousness to the high-level form found in human beings. In quantum theory, on the other hand, consciousness can be dynamically efficacious: quantum theory does allow consciousness to influence behavior, and thence to evolve in accordance with the principles of natural selection. However, this evolutionary requirement places important constraints upon the details of the formulation of the quantum dynamical principles.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/442188},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 1996},

  month        = {Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 1996}

}

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