A Theoretical Solution of the Mind-Body Problem: An Operationalized Proof that no Purely Physical System Can Exhibit all the Properties of Human Consciousness

TL;DR

This paper provides a rigorous operational proof that no purely physical system can exhibit all properties of human consciousness, specifically self-certainty, thus addressing the mind-body problem.

Contribution

It introduces a formal no-go theorem demonstrating the incompatibility of physical systems with certain conscious operations like self-certainty.

Findings

Proves a necessary property of consciousness (self-certainty) is incompatible with physical systems.

Establishes a general and recursive no-go theorem for physical systems exhibiting human reasoning.

Concludes the mind-body problem is conclusively resolved for at least one aspect of consciousness.

Abstract

This article presents an operationalized solution to the mind-body problem which relies on rigorously defined theoretical reasoning rather than philosophical argument. We identify a specific operation which is a necessary property of all healthy human conscious individuals -- specifically the operation of self-certainty, or the capacity of healthy conscious humans to "know" with certainty that they are conscious. This operation is shown to be inconsistent with the properties possible in any meaningful definition of a physical system. This inconsistency is demonstrated by proving a "no-go" theorem for any physical system capable of human logical reasoning, if this reasoning is required to be both sound and consistent. The proof of this theorem is both general -- it applies to any function whereby evidence affects the state of some physical system -- and recursive, since any physical process subserving a function of this type is shown to imply another such function. Thus for at least one aspect of human consciousness, the mind-body problem is now conclusively resolved.