Are mental states nonlocal?

TL;DR

This paper argues that if mental states depend on physical states and are integrated experiences, then they exhibit nonlocality, challenging classical physics and computationalist views, with implications for quantum physics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel argument linking mental state nonlocality to the inadequacy of classical physics and computationalism, supported by a thought experiment.

Findings

Mental states are nonlocal if they depend on physical states and are integrated.

Classical physics cannot fully explain the nonlocality of mental states.

Quantum physics may provide a framework for this nonlocality.

Abstract

I show that if mental states are function of physical states, then they are nonlocal, in a sense that will be explained. I argue that, if mental states are reducible to brain physics, and if they are integrated experiences, this nonlocality implies that Classical Physics is not enough, in particular the computationalist thesis does not hold. I illustrate the argument with a thought experiment. The proof of nonlocality is straightforward and general, but the result is counterintuitive, so I spend a large part of the article discussing possible objections, alternatives, and implications. I discuss the possibility that Quantum Physics allows this kind of nonlocality.