Emil du Bois-Reymond’s Reflections on Consciousness

Finkelstein, Gabriel

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-8774-1_10

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The core behaviour systems (CBS) of the midbrain provide the substrate for primary consciousness driving both the neocortex (1) and the brainstem activating system (BAS) that in turn provide the activation and valuation of the thalamus (2) and neocortex (3). The neocortex (CRT) shares direct and indirect recurrent connections with the thalamus (4) and normative virtualization memory of secondary consciousness is implemented by the cortico-cortical and thalamo-cortical system of the fronto-parietal network (4,5). Cortical networks in turn can exert control over BAS (6) and CBS (1) closing a normative valuation feedback loop.…”

Section: (C) Empirical and Methodological Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Verschure

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'. Understanding the nature of consciousness is one of the grand outstanding scientific challenges. The fundamental methodological problem is how phenomenal first person experience can be accounted for in a third person verifiable form, while the conceptual challenge is to both define its function and physical realization. The distributed adaptive control theory of consciousness (DACtoc) proposes answers to these three challenges. The methodological challenge is answered relative to the hard problem and DACtoc proposes that it can be addressed using a convergent synthetic methodology using the analysis of synthetic biologically grounded agents, or quale parsing. DACtoc hypothesizes that consciousness in both its primary and secondary forms serves the ability to deal with the hidden states of the world and emerged during the Cambrian period, affording stable multi-agent environments to emerge. The process of consciousness is an autonomous virtualization memory, which serializes and unifies the parallel and subconscious simulations of the hidden states of the world that are largely due to other agents and the self with the objective to extract norms. These norms are in turn projected as value onto the parallel simulation and control systems that are driving action. This functional hypothesis is mapped onto the brainstem, midbrain and the thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical systems and analysed with respect to our understanding of deficits of consciousness. Subsequently, some of the implications and predictions of DACtoc are outlined, in particular, the prediction that normative bootstrapping of conscious agents is predicated on an intentionality prior. In the view advanced here, human consciousness constitutes the ultimate evolutionary transition by allowing agents to become autonomous with respect to their evolutionary priors leading to a post-biological Anthropocene.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'.

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Section: (C) Empirical and Methodological Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Verschure

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…For the Berlin Physical Society seeWise 2018, Sulloway 1992, Finkelstein 2013, Turner 1994 For Helmholtz's relationship to Müller see DeKock (2015Kock ( , 2019, Edgar 2015, and the above cited works on the Berlin Physical Society. 12 SeeSchiemann 2008, Harman 1982, p. 61 and passim.…”

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confidence: 99%

Organic Memory and the Perils of Perigenesis: The Helmholtz-Hering Debate

Patton

2022

International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives Internationales d'Histoire Des Idées

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Knightian uncertainty: through a Jamesian window

Rizzo

Dold

2021

Cambridge Journal of Economics

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Frank Knight is famous for the distinction between risk and uncertainty. In this paper, we argue that Knight’s distinction is different from the one made by those who seek to interpret it within a neoclassical framework. Knight does not reduce ‘true uncertainty’ to the application of (axiomatic) subjective probability. Instead, Knight highlights the power of intuitive judgement in situations of uncertainty. Moreover, Knight conceptualises uncertainty along a continuum which means that many of our real-world problems must be seen as mixed cases of risk and uncertainty. This paper illustrates that Knight’s arguments can be more fully understood through the lens of William James’s psychology, which deeply influenced Knight’s way of thinking. Finally, this paper links Knight’s argument to a growing body of recent empirical literature that shows how effective judgemental–intuitive modes of reasoning are in cases of environmental instability. In doing so, this paper begins to fill out the uncertainty framework, which Knight has sketched in Risk, Uncertainty and Profit (1921).

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Emil du Bois-Reymond’s Reflections on Consciousness

Cited by 3 publications

References 32 publications

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Synthetic consciousness: the distributed adaptive control perspective

Organic Memory and the Perils of Perigenesis: The Helmholtz-Hering Debate

Knightian uncertainty: through a Jamesian window

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