Lecture Notes: The Nature of Consciousness and the Physical World

Main Argument

• Consciousness vs. Physical Definition:
  • Consciousness is not considered physical by definition.
  • The physical is defined as lacking phenomenal qualities and is described by abstract quantities (mass, charge, momentum, etc.).
  • This creates two incoherent domains:
    • Inner life experiences (consciousness).
    • Conceptual creations (physical world).

Physical Descriptions

• Abstract Quantities:

  • Used to describe relative differences in experiences (e.g., frequency difference for red vs. blue).
  • Originally intended to describe, not exist within, experiences.

• Misplaced Ontology:

  • Abstract quantities have been erroneously given the status of an independent ontological reality.
  • Attempts to reduce consciousness to these quantities are flawed.

The External World

• Existence Independent of Mind:

  • There is a world that exists independently of personal minds.
  • Wrongly believed to fall outside the category of mind.

• Constitution by Mental States:

  • The objective world exists but is composed of transpersonal mental states.
  • Physicality is a presentation of these mental states.

Conclusions

• Mismatch in Definitions:
  • Problematic to attempt fitting qualitative experiences into quantitative descriptions.
  • Need to reconsider our understanding of consciousness and physicality.

Implications

• Recognizes a distinction between personal mental states and a larger framework of reality.
• Suggests reevaluating our ontological categories assigned to abstract quantities and physical reality.