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Matter vs. Mind, or Physics vs. Mathematics

In this chapter, we will first discuss the apparent close but puzzling relationship between physics and mathematics and will propose a view showing why it is the case in light of language usage. I propose that this will help to clear the so-called ``hard problem'' of consciousness [13] in cognitive science, in which we have to explain why subjective qualia (that ``something it is like'') can emerge from pure physical processes. The key is to treat language as a way of computation in light of quantum theory, and confer upon it a pivoting role in understanding thought (the mental reality), which in turn points to physical reality2.1. I will argue that the concept of classical computation is inadequate. Specifically, classical computation should be treated as a limiting case of a more subtle computation (rheomode computation).2.2 We will begin with the argument of why physics and mathematics are relevant to our topic: a naturalist intelligible account for meaning as the activity of quantum physical objects.



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Next: Why physics? Up: Matter vs. Mind Previous: Matter vs. Mind   Contents   Index
Joseph Chen 2002-09-05