Giulio Tononi's Theory of Consciousness

[Jehanne]

Everyone,

What do you think of Giulio Tononi's theories of consciousness:

http://centerforsleepandconsciousness.me...ononi.html

I posted the above link to Sean Carroll's blog (his post on consciousness) but he deleted it a short time later.

I think that Tononi's ideas on consciousness make sense.  Of course, no theory may explain consciousness in its entirety but Tononi goes the farthest in my opinion.

[Alex K]

Which Sean Carroll was that?

[Jehanne]

Which Sean Carroll was that?

The physicist:

http://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/

[Jehanne]

For those interested, Wikipedia has a great article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated...ion_theory

I am NO expert, of course!  But, Giulio's ideas make the most sense to me, and I have listened to a number of scientists talk about consciousness, but, of course, everyone has their own opinion and/or favorite.

[Angrboda]

It's beyond my meager understanding.

[Jehanne]

It's beyond my meager understanding.

Hey, join the club; here's some interviews with Tononi about his ideas:

https://www.closertotruth.com/contributo...ni/profile

[Angrboda]

It seems to me that he's talking "around" the subject without actually penetrating it. He uses a lot of phenomenological analysis but he never really explains why we have the phenomenology.

[Jehanne]

It seems to me that he's talking "around" the subject without actually penetrating it.  He uses a lot of phenomenological analysis but he never really explains why we have the phenomenology.

That's known as the "hard problem".  I like to think of it as self-replicating molecules.  What is the chemical process behind that?  No scientist knows for sure.  Likewise, for consciousness.  What's the arrangement of molecules that would result in that?  No one really knows.  However, with time, some brilliant scientist may find such an arrangement (in silicon perhaps), and as with self-replicating molecules, that system of molecules would possess consciousness.

[Losty]

Giulio Tononi sounds like the name of a mobster

[Jehanne]

Giulio Tononi sounds like the name of a mobster

He's from Italy.