This is a study of types of causative present events in a molecular motor, which are proteins - such as myosin, kinesina and dynein - present inside the cells and associated with, among other functions, the transport of substances along... more
This is a study of types of causative present events in a molecular motor, which are proteins - such as myosin, kinesina and dynein - present inside the cells and associated with, among other functions, the transport of substances along microtubules rails ( Spudich, 2006). Molecular motors are essential for the whole body movement and play an important role in brain. It is known that their malfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease (Stokin & Goldstein, 2006), and it is reasonable to assume that they are at the base of the deliberative processes of decision making.
Adopt a general perspective that can be characterized as a "methodological reductionism", to try to reduce the macroscopic causality recognized in biology the most basic causal events. A causal event is defined by the possibility of an intervention or manipulation. In a previous study, we identified three types of causal events in quantum systems (less than 0.1 nm) interacting with macroscopic measuring devices (Person, 2013).
In this study, we set aside the quantum scale and up to three orders of magnitude study the causal processes in macromolecules 50nm, immersed in an aqueous solution of the cell medium and described by classical physical chemistry. On this scale, the molecules receive the shock of a huge number of water molecules per second, which makes them around, rotating, vibrating and twisting stochastically in Brownian motion, with power of 10-8 watts order. The macromolecule relates to microtubule (in the case of kinesina and dynein) by means of two "feet", and detaches when one occurs hydrolysis of ATP molecule, a process whose full power for a macromolecule is only 10-16 watts. Even with extremely low power to the Brownian motion, the hydrolysis of ATP is essential for unidirectional movement of the protein. The molecular motor floating end along the microtubule towards the core or the core in the opposite direction. On average, however, dynein has a net shift towards the core (electrically more negative) and kinesina in the opposite direction (more positive charge). Understanding the mechanism involved is the result of research of the past 25 years, and will be presented briefly (Astumian, 2010).
Identify at least four types of causal events are present at the molecular motor movement.
(1) The Brownian motion of the macromolecule can be reduced to a set of individual collisions with water molecules, which provides power to the molecule explore the area available to it, the viscous medium. This is random mechanical causes.
(2) The molecular motor is attached to the microtubule by electrostatic attraction, with a key-lock type fitting. Such a fitting can be regarded as a causal event. If one foot is loose, it stochastically explore all its accessible region can be fixed in microtubule tens of nanometers more forward.
(3) To be able action molecular engine, it is essential frequent conversion of ATP molecule present in the aqueous solution to ADP + P, a hydrolysis process which occurs stochastically. In this chemical reaction, the release of a quantum of energy occurs, which leads to a change in the conformation of the protein molecules and release of a foot.
(4) To explain the existence of molecular motors and the efficient exercise of its biological function of transport and movement, one must take into account root causes associated with natural selection. There is actually a whole family of evolutionary lineages of molecular motors.
Adopt a general perspective that can be characterized as a "methodological reductionism", to try to reduce the macroscopic causality recognized in biology the most basic causal events. A causal event is defined by the possibility of an intervention or manipulation. In a previous study, we identified three types of causal events in quantum systems (less than 0.1 nm) interacting with macroscopic measuring devices (Person, 2013).
In this study, we set aside the quantum scale and up to three orders of magnitude study the causal processes in macromolecules 50nm, immersed in an aqueous solution of the cell medium and described by classical physical chemistry. On this scale, the molecules receive the shock of a huge number of water molecules per second, which makes them around, rotating, vibrating and twisting stochastically in Brownian motion, with power of 10-8 watts order. The macromolecule relates to microtubule (in the case of kinesina and dynein) by means of two "feet", and detaches when one occurs hydrolysis of ATP molecule, a process whose full power for a macromolecule is only 10-16 watts. Even with extremely low power to the Brownian motion, the hydrolysis of ATP is essential for unidirectional movement of the protein. The molecular motor floating end along the microtubule towards the core or the core in the opposite direction. On average, however, dynein has a net shift towards the core (electrically more negative) and kinesina in the opposite direction (more positive charge). Understanding the mechanism involved is the result of research of the past 25 years, and will be presented briefly (Astumian, 2010).
Identify at least four types of causal events are present at the molecular motor movement.
(1) The Brownian motion of the macromolecule can be reduced to a set of individual collisions with water molecules, which provides power to the molecule explore the area available to it, the viscous medium. This is random mechanical causes.
(2) The molecular motor is attached to the microtubule by electrostatic attraction, with a key-lock type fitting. Such a fitting can be regarded as a causal event. If one foot is loose, it stochastically explore all its accessible region can be fixed in microtubule tens of nanometers more forward.
(3) To be able action molecular engine, it is essential frequent conversion of ATP molecule present in the aqueous solution to ADP + P, a hydrolysis process which occurs stochastically. In this chemical reaction, the release of a quantum of energy occurs, which leads to a change in the conformation of the protein molecules and release of a foot.
(4) To explain the existence of molecular motors and the efficient exercise of its biological function of transport and movement, one must take into account root causes associated with natural selection. There is actually a whole family of evolutionary lineages of molecular motors.
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A presente obra é marcada por um estilo de reflexão temática, que ressalta a preocupação dos autores com os rumos do avanço exponencial da tecnologia na vida humana. Essa preocupação está aqui delimitada aos estudos nas áreas de Filosofia... more
A presente obra é marcada por um estilo de reflexão temática, que ressalta a preocupação dos autores com os rumos do avanço exponencial da tecnologia na vida humana. Essa preocupação está aqui delimitada aos estudos nas áreas de Filosofia da Mente, Ciência Cognitiva, Semiótica e Filosofia da Informação. Alguns dos pesquisadores dessas áreas têm verificado, com surpresa, recentes aplicações de teorias, hipóteses e conceitos desenvolvidos durante anos de pesquisa na elaboração de projetos que parecem escapar do controle de seus idealizadores. Exemplos dessa experiência surpreendente podem ser constatados nas recentes aplicações de pesquisas da Inteligência Artificial e da Ciência Cognitiva no projeto transhumanista, que visa a realização de um suposto aprimoramento da condição humana, Filosofia da Mente, Ciência Cognitiva e o pós-humano para onde vamos através de recursos da computação inteligente, da bioquímica, da nanotecnologia e da genética. No campo político e ético constatam-se aplicações bélicas, altamente polêmicas, por exemplo, como a aeronave autônoma de bombardeio Taranis.
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This chapter reviews the history of the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, from its roots in the wave-particle paradox until around 1990. After examining von Neumann’s formulation of the problem, the proposed solutions are... more
This chapter reviews the history of the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, from its roots in the wave-particle paradox until around 1990. After examining von Neumann’s formulation of the problem, the proposed solutions are examined, separated into objectivist solutions, subjectivist views, the many worlds interpretation, and views that consider the measurement problem to be a pseudoproblem. The debate blossomed in the 1960s, with new versions of von Neumann’s insolubility proofs, the consideration of null-result measurements, and the proposal of non-linear corrections to the Schrödinger equation. In the 1970s and 1980s, new objectivist ideas were put forward, such as the notion that all systems are open, and the theory of stochastic localizations, which merged with the non-linear approach. Many solutions also assumed that the apparatus should be described with infinite degrees of freedom. Experiments have extended the known limits of quantum superpositions, addressing the que...
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Examina-se o experimento mental da duplicação humana, apontando-sediferentes posições com relação aos resultados possíveis do experimento.Uma primeira posição defende a superveniência, quer da perspectiva reducionista, quer da... more
Examina-se o experimento mental da duplicação humana, apontando-sediferentes posições com relação aos resultados possíveis do experimento.Uma primeira posição defende a superveniência, quer da perspectiva reducionista, quer da emergentista, visões essas que são comparadas. Certosaspectos morais do experimento mental são então considerados, especialmenteem relação à ideia da morte. Tomando-se então o reducionismo como hipótese de trabalho, sugerem-se duas possibilidades para a investigação do problema difícil dos qualia: a postulação de algum novo tipo de interação física, e a postulação de uma contraintuitiva lei de escala. Uma possibilidade deste último caso levaria a uma violação da superveniência.
Research Interests: Psychology and Philosophy
O presente trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de dois metodos para o estudo de propriedades opticas e termicas de materiais, a partir da fase do sinal do efeito fotoacustico. O metodo de separacao de espectros na fase (MSf) e uma... more
O presente trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de dois metodos para o estudo de propriedades opticas e termicas de materiais, a partir da fase do sinal do efeito fotoacustico. O metodo de separacao de espectros na fase (MSf) e uma maneira simples de isolar os espectros fotoacusticos de duas camadas superpostas, cada qual com um espectro de absorcao distinto, usando o fato de que o sinal de cada camada tem uma fase diferente. Aplicamos essa tecnica em tecidos biologicos (folha e grao de milho) , e distinguimos um caso simples no qual o metodo tem aplicacao direta, e um caso geral no qual correcoes tem que ser introduzidas. A tecnica da fase dos dois feixes (T2F) e um me todo simples e inovador para medir a difusividade termica de amostras opacas, a partir da diferenca entre as fases dos sinais fotoacusticos devidos a dois feixes de luz modulada, com incidencias em sentidos opostos. Aplicamos essa tecnica para seis amostras semicondutoras de formato plano, com resultados que concordam com dados da literatura Abstract
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When asking whether consciousness is an “essentially quantum effect”, one must first lay down criteria for considering an effect quantum mechanical. After a brief survey of the interpretations of quantum theory, three such sufficient... more
When asking whether consciousness is an “essentially quantum effect”, one must first lay down criteria for considering an effect quantum mechanical. After a brief survey of the interpretations of quantum theory, three such sufficient criteria are proposed and examined: wave-particle duality (or collapse), entanglement (“non-locality”), and quantum condensation (involving “identical” particles). A fourth criteria could involve the use of quantum field theories, but this problem is left open. If a quantum effect played an essential role in the brain, it would probably follow the first criterion, since the entanglement of many particles would be rapidly washed out by decoherence, and there is no strong evidence for the existence of biological condensates.
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This book consists of an edited collection of original essays of the highest academic quality by seasoned experts in their fields of cognitive science. The essays are interdisciplinary, drawing from many of the fields known collectively... more
This book consists of an edited collection of original essays of the highest academic quality by seasoned experts in their fields of cognitive science. The essays are interdisciplinary, drawing from many of the fields known collectively as “the cognitive sciences.” Topics discussed represent a significant cross-section of the most current and interesting issues in cognitive science. Specific topics include matters regarding machine learning and cognitive architecture, the nature of cognitive content, the relationship of information to cognition, the role of language and communication in cognition, the nature of embodied cognition, selective topics in visual cognition, brain connectivity, computation and simulation, social and technological issues within the cognitive sciences, and significant issues in the history of neuroscience. This book will be of interest to both professional researchers and newer students and graduate students in the fields of cognitive science—including compu...
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O presente artigo discute a limitação qualitativa de modelos matemáticos e computacionais. Por “qualitativo” entende-se não uma descrição linguística fuzzy ou sem o uso de matemática, mas sim a vivência de qualidades subjetivas e a... more
O presente artigo discute a limitação qualitativa de modelos matemáticos e computacionais. Por “qualitativo” entende-se não uma descrição linguística fuzzy ou sem o uso de matemática, mas sim a vivência de qualidades subjetivas e a extensão deste conceito para a materialidade das coisas, em oposição à suas relações estruturais. Explora-se didaticamente o “espectro funcionalista”, em que diferentes posições filosóficas a respeito da natureza da consciência são apresentadas. Esta análise opõe, de um lado, as visões comportamentalistas, funcionalistas e mecanicistas, e de outro, as concepções mentalistas, substancialistas e qualitatistas. Mapeiam-se assim diferentes respostas à pergunta de se uma máquina pode ser consciente.
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The term “experimental philosophy” has been used to refer to the solution of what were considered philosophical problems by means of laboratory experiments. A recent example of this was the experimental violation of the Bell inequality,... more
The term “experimental philosophy” has been used to refer to the solution of what were considered philosophical problems by means of laboratory experiments. A recent example of this was the experimental violation of the Bell inequality, which ruled out certain philosophically appealing “realist local” theories as alternatives to quantum mechanics (QM).Following the spirit of such experimental philosophy, this paper proposes a feasible test between two different interpretations concerning the nature of “mixtures” in QM. The use of delayed coincidence techniques seems to show that the process of mixing beams of light in different polarizations is reversible, favoring a weak version of the so-called “ignorance interpretation” over the “instrumentalist” view.
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According to the colored-brain thesis (or qualitative physicalism), sense data or qualia are real physical-chemical qualities, located inside the brain, possibly at a specific locus. Our hypothesis is that the seats of phenomenal... more
According to the colored-brain thesis (or qualitative physicalism), sense data or qualia are real physical-chemical qualities, located inside the brain, possibly at a specific locus. Our hypothesis is that the seats of phenomenal consciousness have a structure and a materiality. According to the proposed view, a chromatic quale emerges when a certain pixel of the visual sensorium (the hypothetical subjective visual “screen”, or Cartesian theater, with its specific materiality ω) is fed with a certain pattern Σ of spikes; a change in this pattern quickly changes the color that is subjectively generated. How could one manage to measure chromatic qualia? In principle, with nanoscopical techniques, one could capture all the patterns that fall on the sensorium, and transmit the information to other media. But this does not capture the qualia. However, if the patterns are made to fall on a tissue of the same kind, typically inside another person’s brain, this other person will have roughl...
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Published in Martins, R.A.; Boido, G. & Rodríguez, V. (eds.), History and Philosophy of Physics in the South Cone. Texts in Philosophy 19. College Publications, London, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-84890-105-6. Original: “Mapa das Interpretações da... more
Published in Martins, R.A.; Boido, G. & Rodríguez, V. (eds.), History and Philosophy of Physics in the South Cone. Texts in Philosophy 19. College Publications, London, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-84890-105-6. Original: “Mapa das Interpretações da Teoria Quântica”, in Martins, R.A.; Boido, G. & Rodríguez, V. (orgs.), Física: Estudios Filosóficos e Históricos, AFHIC, Campinas, 2006, pp. 119-52. ISBN: 85-90419-82-7. Relançado em 2013 pela College Publications, Londres. ISBN: 978-1-84890-089-9.
This paper investigates the “private” interpretations that students of quantum mechanics develop concerning this theory. By means of questionaires, we analyze their conceptions with respect to the double slit experiment, uncertainty... more
This paper investigates the “private” interpretations that students of quantum mechanics develop concerning this theory. By means of questionaires, we analyze their conceptions with respect to the double slit experiment, uncertainty principle, quantum state, retrodiction, and projection postulate. Correlating the students’ answers, we observe that different private interpretations are frequently employed for analyzing different problems. Other conclusions about the cognitive processes of the students are also obtained.
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O objetivo deste trabalho e mostrar, em um grupo especifico de fisicos: dez professores do Instituto de Fisica da Usp, algumas concepcoes filosoficas encontradas nas respostas a uma pregunta que envolveu a nocao da verdade. Escutando... more
O objetivo deste trabalho e mostrar, em um grupo especifico de fisicos: dez professores do Instituto de Fisica da Usp, algumas concepcoes filosoficas encontradas nas respostas a uma pregunta que envolveu a nocao da verdade. Escutando atentamente as respostas obtidas e utilizando tecnicas de analise de conteudo pudemos perceber como e quanto arraigada fica a posicao de cada entrevistado sobre o tema abordado durante a entrevista. O dialogo aqui proposto busca classificar e mapear as diversas concepcoes filosoficas de professores de fisica do Instituto de Fisica da Universidade de Sao Paulo (IFUSP). A metodologia utilizada seguiu os principios da pesquisa qualitativa associada a analise de conteudo. Isso que nos permitiu o estabelecimento de criterios de classificacao para as diversas concepcoes filosoficas encontradas nas respostas dos entrevistados e a criacao de categorias que foram ilustradas com representacoes diagramaticas. Com isso, pretende-se deixar abertos caminhos para que...
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The investigation of a method for postulating counterfactual histories of science has led to the development of a theory of science based on general units of knowledge, which are called "advances". Advances are passed on from... more
The investigation of a method for postulating counterfactual histories of science has led to the development of a theory of science based on general units of knowledge, which are called "advances". Advances are passed on from scientist to scientist, and may be seen as "causing" the appearance of other advances. This results in networks which may be analyzed in terms of probabilistic causal models, which are readily encodable in computer language. The probability for a set of advances to give rise to another advance is taken to be invariant through history, but depends on a typical time span which is an inverse function of the degree of development of science. Examples are given from the early science of magnetism and from the 19 t h century physics.
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Este artigo faz parte de um projeto da Trans/Form/Ação: revista de filosofia da Unesp. Tratase do Dossiê Filosofia Autoral, a ser publicado em 2022. Resumo: No debate sobre a redutibilidade da mente sobre o corpo, argumentamos que não é... more
Este artigo faz parte de um projeto da Trans/Form/Ação: revista de filosofia da Unesp. Tratase do Dossiê Filosofia Autoral, a ser publicado em 2022. Resumo: No debate sobre a redutibilidade da mente sobre o corpo, argumentamos que não é plausível supor que tal redução possa se dar apenas a partir das condições físicas basais, mas que é necessário levar em conta também as leis de ponte psicofisiológicas. Esta posição é geralmente considerada antirreducionista na Filosofia da Mente, mas preferimos chamá-la de "reducionismo indutivo", devido à analogia com duas outras formas de determinação nas Ciências Físicas: o determinismo causal e o reducionismo escalar espacial. A discussão é feita com base em "sondas epistemológicas" abstratas, como o demônio de Laplace, o demônio escalar e o demônio psicofisiológico. Criticamos também a noção de causalidade sincrônica das por Searle.
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Three monist views on the mind-body problem are presented. Triple-aspect monism considers that there are three main phases of actualization of the potentialities in Nature: the physical, the informational, and the conscious. The... more
Three monist views on the mind-body problem are presented. Triple-aspect monism considers that there are three main phases of actualization of the potentialities in Nature: the physical, the informational, and the conscious. The double-face view assumes that conscious mind and brain are irreducible to each other, stressing not only that the conscious mind is dependent on the brain, but that changes in the brain are also dependent on the conscious mind. Qualitative physicalism adopts the mindbrain identity thesis, and defends the view that subjective qualia are actual physical attributes of some region of the brain.
Resumo: Apos apresentar, em linhas gerais, a abordagem dos modelos causais em historia da ciencia, define-se a nocao de “avanco” como uma manifestacao cultural de natureza cognitiva ou, na linguagem da biologia evolutiva, como um “meme”... more
Resumo: Apos apresentar, em linhas gerais, a abordagem dos modelos causais em historia da ciencia, define-se a nocao de “avanco” como uma manifestacao cultural de natureza cognitiva ou, na linguagem da biologia evolutiva, como um “meme” cognitivo. Discute-se ate que ponto tais avancos podem ser considerados verdadeiras “unidades”, e discorre-se sobre a nocao problematica de “unidades que se conservariam na passagem de uma historia possivel para outra”. Comentarios sao feitos sobre a distincao entre a definicao de um avanco e seu grau de aceitacao e, por fim, sobre a plausibilidade de considerar que (em primeira aproximacao) o significado de um avanco nao se modifica com a evolucao da ciencia. No apendice, descreve-se a classificacao de avancos em sessenta tipos, distribuidos em dez classes. Palavras-chave: Mudanca cientifica, historia da ciencia, modelos causais, unidade de conhecimento, avanco, meme.
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The “colored-brain thesis”, or strong qualitative physicalism, is discussed from historical and philosophical perspectives. This thesis was proposed by Thomas Case (1888), in a non-materialistic context, and is close to views explored by... more
The “colored-brain thesis”, or strong qualitative physicalism, is discussed from historical and philosophical perspectives. This thesis was proposed by Thomas Case (1888), in a non-materialistic context, and is close to views explored by H. H. Price (1932) and E. Boring (1933). Using Mary’s room thought experiment, one can argue that physicalism implies qualitative physicalism. Qualitative physicalism involves three basic statements: (i) perceptual internalism, and realism of qualia; (ii) ontic physicalism, charaterized as a description in space, time, and scale; and (iii) mind-brain identity thesis. In addition, (iv) structuralism in physics, and distinguishing the present version from that suggested by H. Feigl and S. Pepper, (v) realism of the physical description. The “neurosurgeon argument” is presented, as to why the greenness of a visually perceived avocado, which (according to this view) is present in the brain as a physical-chemical attribute, would not be seen as green by ...
An initial sketch is presented of a classification of different positions in the philosophy of science, aiming at conceptual clarification and the teaching of philosophy. After an example of how a term may have different meanings through... more
An initial sketch is presented of a classification of different positions in the philosophy of science, aiming at conceptual clarification and the teaching of philosophy. After an example of how a term may have different meanings through history, a summary of different “types” of questions in philosophy of science is given. A general classification of philosophical worldviews is proposed, with emphasis being given to naturalism, which is divided into realist and “observationist” positions. After considering the definitions of pragmatism, a brief discussion is presented of the extension of these definitions to the metatheoretical level.
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The studies of Benjamin Libet et al. in the 1960s-70s regarding temporal antedating are examined. After studying the direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex, which takes half a second to become conscious, Libet refined... more
The studies of Benjamin Libet et al. in the 1960s-70s regarding temporal antedating are examined. After studying the direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex, which takes half a second to become conscious, Libet refined the classic thesis of the ‘specious present’, arguing that conscious processes generally take around half a second to form. Next, he explored a masking effect by carrying out experiments involving a sensory stimulus (a prick in the hand) followed by cortical stimulation, concluding that there is an ‘antedating’ of the conscious experience of the pinch (felt half a second later) for an instant of time close to the one when it actually occurred. This result was interpreted by some philosophers and neuroscientists as being a challenge to the mind-brain identity thesis, provoking a reaction by Patricia Churchland of denying the validity of the experiment or the concept of antedating. We argue that such a negative reaction is not justified, and that the e...
The article by Arnellos, Spyrou and Darzentas discusses the question of whether an artificial system, such as a robot or artificial life, can be made genuinely autonomous. The negative answer that they present is sound, but seems to us to... more
The article by Arnellos, Spyrou and Darzentas discusses the question of whether an artificial system, such as a robot or artificial life, can be made genuinely autonomous. The negative answer that they present is sound, but seems to us to be a simple consequence of the definitions adopted. We argue that the theoretical considerations presented, based on the notions of functional emergence and meaning, need further explanation in order to give support for their argument. As it is presented so far, not very much novelty is added to the already existent research on autonomous and cognitive robotics and artificial life. Also, we would like to challenge the defenders of the “theory of self-referential systems” to set up conditions in which the theory would be considered falsified. The problem of whether life and autonomy could in principle be sustained with components other than carbonbased organic molecules seems to involve still unknown empirical aspects, and cannot be answered simply ...
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After an overview of the concepts of inertia, space, and time in Newtonian mechanics, we analyze Mach’s principle, which states that the inertia of any body arises from its interaction with distant bodies in the Universe. We then explain... more
After an overview of the concepts of inertia, space, and time in Newtonian mechanics, we analyze Mach’s principle, which states that the inertia of any body arises from its interaction with distant bodies in the Universe. We then explain why, in general, Einstein’s theory of gravitation does not implement this principle. A paper by Schrödinger is then discussed, in which he presents an alternative formulation for mechanics based on a form of Weber’s law for gravitation, and which is compatible with the ideas of Mach. * Endereço permanente: Instituto de Física ‘Gleb Wataghin’, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Unicamp, 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo. A.K.T. Assis e Osvaldo Pessoa Jr. Cad. Hist. Fil. Ci., Campinas, Série 3, v. 11, n. 2, p. 131-152, jul.-dez. 2001. 132 1. MECÂNICA NEWTONIANA Newton apresentou sua formulação da mecânica em 1687 no livro Princípios Matemáticos de Filosofia Natural, mais conhecido por seu primeiro nome em latim, Principia. A primeira definição que apres...
According to the colored-brain thesis (or qualitative physicalism), sense data or qualia are real physical-chemical qualities, located inside the brain, possibly at a specific locus. Our hypothesis is that the seats of phenomenal... more
According to the colored-brain thesis (or qualitative physicalism), sense data or qualia are real physical-chemical qualities, located inside the brain, possibly at a specific locus. Our hypothesis is that the seats of phenomenal consciousness have a structure and a materiality. According to the proposed view, a chromatic quale emerges when a certain pixel of the visual sensorium (the hypothetical subjective visual “screen”, or Cartesian theater, with its specific materiality ) is fed with a certain pattern of spikes; a change in this pattern quickly changes the color that is subjectively generated. How could one manage to measure chromatic qualia? In principle, with nanoscopical techniques, one could capture all the patterns that fall on the sensorium, and transmit the information to other media. But this does not capture the qualia. However, if the patterns are made to fall on a tissue of the same kind, typically inside another person’s brain, this other person will have roughl...
When asking whether consciousness is an “essentially quantum effect”, one must first lay down criteria for considering an effect quantum mechanical. After a brief survey of the interpretations of quantum theory, three such sufficient... more
When asking whether consciousness is an “essentially quantum effect”, one must first lay down criteria for considering an effect quantum mechanical. After a brief survey of the interpretations of quantum theory, three such sufficient criteria are proposed and examined: wave-particle duality (or collapse), entanglement (“non-locality”), and quantum condensation (involving “identical” particles). A fourth criteria could involve the use of quantum field theories, but this problem is left open. If a quantum effect played an essential role in the brain, it would probably follow the first criterion, since the entanglement of many particles would be rapidly washed out by decoherence, and there is no strong evidence for the existence of biological condensates. 1. Prologue
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In 1966, the Brazilian physicist Klaus Tausk circulated a preprint from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, in Trieste, criticizing the theory put forward by Daneri, Loinger & Prosperi on the measurement problem in quantum... more
In 1966, the Brazilian physicist Klaus Tausk circulated a preprint from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, in Trieste, criticizing the theory put forward by Daneri, Loinger & Prosperi on the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. This led to a heated controversy, which reflected two opposing camps within the orthodox interpretation of quantum theory, represented by Leon Rosenfeld and Eugene Wigner. But the controversy also went beyond the strictly scientific issues, involving the political context of the Cold War, the relations between developed and "Third world" countries, the use of social skills, and personal idiosyncrasies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1808-1711.2016v20n1p117As part of an ongoing study of causal models in the history of science, a counterfactual scenario in the history of modern astronomy is explored with the aid of computer simulations. After... more
http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1808-1711.2016v20n1p117As part of an ongoing study of causal models in the history of science, a counterfactual scenario in the history of modern astronomy is explored with the aid of computer simulations. After the definition of “linking advance”, a possible world involving technological antecedence is described, branching out in 1510, in which the telescope is invented 70 years before its actual construction, at the time in which Fracastoro actually built the first prototelescope. By using the principle of the closest possible world (PCP), we estimate that in this scenario the discovery of the elliptical orbit of Mars would by anticipated by only 28 years. The second part of the paper involves an estimate of the probability of the previous scenario, guided by the principle that the actual world is the mean (PAM) and using computer simulations to create possible worlds in which the time spans between advances is varied according to a gamma distribution fun...
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Definimos un “escenario contrafáctico”, esto es, una situación posible queno se realizó, como una posibilidad futura en algún instante del pasado. Elejemplo más consagrado de análisis contrafáctico viene del área de lahistoria económica,... more
Definimos un “escenario contrafáctico”, esto es, una situación posible queno se realizó, como una posibilidad futura en algún instante del pasado. Elejemplo más consagrado de análisis contrafáctico viene del área de lahistoria económica, donde se pueden hacer previsiones cuantitativas sobreel futuro. Esta posibilidad, aliada a la evaluación retrospectiva, dan un buengrado de confianza a este análisis. Otra área en la que se pueden postularescenarios contrafácticos es la historia de la ciencia. Lo que permite eso, noes la previsión del futuro sino, la ventaja retrospectiva de saber hoy decuáles descubrimientos estaban próximos los científicos del pasado. Paraeso, se presupone la objetividad de las ciencias naturales. Un tercer tipo deanálisis contrafáctico reúne a la historia virtual, la evolución biológica y eldesarrollo de juegos. Al final, utilizamos nuestra definición de escenariocontrafáctico para explorar la cuestión de la identidad personal y losindividuos transmundiales.
Este trabalho estuda, do ponto de vista materialista, o debate sobre qual é a sede física da “consciência primária”, ou seja, da forma mais básica de consciência, envolvendo sensações e emoções. Examinamos historicamente o problema de se... more
Este trabalho estuda, do ponto de vista materialista, o debate sobre qual é a sede física da “consciência primária”, ou seja, da forma mais básica de consciência, envolvendo sensações e emoções. Examinamos historicamente o problema de se tal sensório é localizado em uma pequena região do encéfalo ou se a consciência é distribuída de maneira holista. Destaque é dado aos escritos de neurofisiologistas da década de 1950, que se dividiam entre a afirmação de que a sede da consciência primária é subcortical, e visões mais holistas como a da tese da homogeneidade (funcionalismo). Busca-se explicar a transição que ocorreu ao final da década de 1960, com o papel predominante que se passou a dar para o neocórtex. A finalidade filosófica deste trabalho é regatar a importância da tese subcorticalista.
Research Interests:
An extended definition of “observation” is developed in order to account for the usage in the physical sciences and in neuropsychology. An observation is initially defined as a perception that has a focus of attention and is guided by... more
An extended definition of “observation” is developed in order to account for the usage in the physical sciences and in neuropsychology. An observation is initially defined as a perception that has a focus of attention and is guided by theoretical considerations. Since the focus may change, one adopts a pluralist position according to which the object of perception may involve any stage of the causal chain that leads to perception, such as the source of light or sound, the obstructions, the medium or even the receptor. The “neutral” observations of the empiricists are seen as involving only low-level or medium-level theorization. Examples are examined, such as a lunar eclipse, the rainbow, and observations mediated by instruments, whose “artifacts” are considered observations of the instrument itself. One also defines null-effect observations. Observations of photographs and drawings may be considered either the observation of a printed sheet of paper or the observation of the pictur...
A área da filosofia analítica conhecida como “metafísica dos mundos possíveis” concebe a “possibilidade contrafactual” como qualquer estado de coisas que não seja logicamente contraditório. O presente trabalho visa explorar uma classe... more
A área da filosofia analítica conhecida como “metafísica dos mundos possíveis” concebe a “possibilidade contrafactual” como qualquer estado de coisas que não seja logicamente contraditório. O presente trabalho visa explorar uma classe restrita de tais mundos logicamente possíveis, que seriam os mundos “causalmente possíveis” (duas classes intermediárias são também caracterizadas). Tais mundos seriam definidos por meio da chamada “possibilidade temporal”, que se refere às possibilidades futuras de um dado instante. Um mundo causalmente possível seria uma possibilidade temporal futura com referência a algum instante do passado real do Universo. Neste trabalho, supõe-se que a evolução do Universo não seja determinista. A cada instante, um “grau de dispersão” caracterizaria a amplidão de possibilidades futuras. Supondo que a identidade das pessoas se preserva no futuro, então esta metafísica aceitaria a existência de indivíduos “transmundiais”. A probabilidade de um mundo causalmente po...