Abstract
Classical physics has no natural place for consciousness. According to the classical precepts, the sole ingredients of the physical universe are particles and local fields, and every physical system is completely described by specifying the dispositions in space and time of these two kinds of localizable parts. Furthermore, the dispositions of these parts at early times determine, through certain “laws of motion”, their dispositions at all times. The system is logically complete in the sense that it does not logically require, for its description of nature, any things beyond the dispositions of the particles and local fields.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
H. P. Stapp, The Copenhagen Interpretation, Am. J. Phys. 40, 1098 (1972) and chap. 3 of the present book.
H. P. Stapp, Quantum Nonlocality and the Description of Nature, in Philosophical Consequences of Quantum Theory, edited by J. Cushing and E. McMullin (Notre Dame University Press, 1989), pp. 154–174;
H. P. Stapp, EPR and Bell’s Theorem: A Critical Review, Found. Phys. 21, 1 (1991);
H. P. Stapp, Noise-Induced Reduction of Wave Packets and Faster-than-Light Influence, Phys. Rev. A 46, 6860 (1992); (with D. Bedford), Bell’s Theorem in an Indeterministic Universe, submitted to Synthese.
W. Heisenberg, Physics and Philosophy (Harper and Row, New York, 1958), chap. III.
H. P. Stapp, Quantum Theory and Emergence of Patterns in the Universe, in Bell’s Theorem, Quantum Theory, and Conceptions of the Universe, edited by Menas Kafatos (Kluwer, Dordrecht, Boston, 1989).
J.I. Hubbard, Mechanism of Transmitter Release, Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 21, 33 (1970).
L. Ingber, Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions. Dynamics of Synaptic Modification, Phys. Rev. A 28, 395–416 (1983);
L. Ingber, Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions. Derivation of Short-Term-Memory Capacity, Phys. Rev. A 29, 3346–3358 (1984).
J. von Neumann, Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1955);
E. Wigner, Remarks on the Mind-Body Problem, in The Scientist Speculates, edited by I. J. Good (Heinemann, London, and Basic Books, New York, 1962).
H. P. Stapp, A Quantum Theory of the Mind-Brain Interface, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Report LBL-28574 Expanded, University of California, Berkeley, 1991, and chap. 6 of the present book.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stapp, H.P. (2004). A Quantum Theory of Consciousness. In: Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics. The Frontiers Collection. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05369-0_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05369-0_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-05371-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-05369-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive