The Problem of Wave Function Collapse by Conscious Observer in The Light of Mind-Body Theories

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Science and Technology, Department of Physics Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30465/ps.2020.5142

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide a philosophical analysis of the problem of the wave function collapse by conscious observer, based on the theories of philosophy of mind. According to the approaches to the mind-body relation, the conceptual problems of this issue are examined both in the context of Cartesian Dualism, as well as emergent and epiphenomenal mental properties. It is concluded that by taking the physical and hardware approach to mind, raised the same conceptual difficulties of apparatuses in Quantum Mechanics, as well as mental and nonphysical approaches have the problem of explaining the mechanism of the interaction between the mind or mental properties and the observed physical system belongs to the external world. Also, by putting forward a thought experiment as well as by further discussions on the similarities between the "wave function collapse" and processes of "making decision" by a conscious observer, their conceptual consequences for quantum mechanics are examined. Finally, it is shown that each aspect of the problem has its own conceptual difficulties, and this issue will remain open under the mind-matter problem.

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