Consciousness is not a physically provable property

TL;DR

This paper presents a logical proof suggesting that physical systems cannot definitively determine if they are conscious, implying a potential link between consciousness and energy conservation violations, with implications for quantum mechanics and free will.

Contribution

It introduces a logical proof that physical systems cannot confirm consciousness, explores quantum interpretation implications, and applies these ideas to free will debates.

Findings

Physical systems cannot definitively prove consciousness.

Potential violation of energy conservation linked to consciousness.

Implications for quantum mechanics interpretations and free will.

Abstract

We present a logical proof that computing machines, and by extension physical systems, can never be certain if they possess conscious awareness. This implies that human consciousness is associated with a violation of energy conservation. We examine the significance that a particular interpretation of quantum mechanics, known as single mind Q (Barrett 1999), might have for the detection of such a violation. Finally we apply single mind Q to the problem of free will as it arises in some celebrated experiments by the neurophysiologist Benjamin Libet.