Physical and linguistic problems in the modelling of consciousness by neural networks

Abstract

We consider consciousness as a large scale phenomenon that can be reduced to small scale interactions between neurons, and hence to quantum mechanics. We show that this has consequences for a reductionist approach in modelling consciousness. An alternative to this is a metaphorical approach. We draw a parallel with the alchemists language in describing his experiments. Finally, we investigate the formalist viewpoint that consciousness is modelled and described by its use in language.