[ExI] The Problem of Mental Causation

[Jason Resch]

One of the great puzzles when it comes to understanding consciousness and
its role in the universe is the question of how conscious thoughts could
have any causal power in a universe fully governed and determined by
particles blindly following forces of nature.

Some solve this problem by supposing our will must somehow miraculously
intervene in physics. Others solve this problem by denying human will or
agency, relegating consciousness to an ineffectual, and inessential
"epiphenomenon."

But I think a more nuanced view can show that consciousness can have causal
power in a universe fully determined by particles following physical
equations. Here is my attempt at describing such a view:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qCuCc9kvbw5KKHJ223l7MbbNhZkTamhA/view?usp=sharing

An answer to this question is relevant to whether uploaded minds, AI, or
robots can have will or agency, despite their behavior being fully
determined by low-level machine code.

Jason
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