Sharif Digital Repository

Consciousness is the most difficult problems in the philosophy of mind and science. Some philosophers propose a evolutionary explanation of consciousness but Another dispute over that. If we give evolutionary explanation of consciousness, we must investigate what theories of consciousness and views of mind-body can support evolutionary consciousness. Then we must pass three steps. The first step, reply to objection of evolutionary consciousness. The second step, weaken view of opponents. The third step, explaining evolutionary consciousness. In this dissertation I try clarify those steps and show objections of them. If those objections was true, I accept them else reply to them. Eventually I... 

Phenomena such as will and volition, the emergence of qualities, internal and external feelings are the main problems related to consciousness. Consciousness is one of the oldest and, of course, most complex problems in science, and scientists are striving to provide a suitable explanation for this problem, but a complete answer has not yet been presented. Quantum consciousness is also an attempt to provide a suitable answer using the theory of quantum mechanics as the most fundamental scientific theory regarding the behavior of matter. In this area, the Orch OR theory by Penrose-Hameroff, the Henry P. Stap’s theory of quantum consciousness, and the Eccles-Beck’s theory of quantum... 

In order to study the phenomenon of consciousness, many physicists have presented their views. In this thesis, the phenomenon of consciousness is analyzed from Henrry Stapp and Penrose-Hameroffs’ viewpoints. Assuming the subjective reduction of state vector, Stapp considers conscious mind as prerequisite for the reduction of wave function. In his view, consciousness is a selection agent which has a top-level control over brain stimulations,and every conscious experience is the feeling of the top-level event in the brain. He also considers physical world as a structure of tendencies and probabilities. He speaks about creative events which occur among Heisenberg probability distributions. On... 

The problem of the divine actin in nature in its traditional form has been raised as the relation between the entities which have origination and eternal entities. However, the new form of this problem is how the divine action would be compatible with the basic assumptions of naturalism and physicalism, especially causal closure. In the present dissertation, two approaches in this issue are examined. First one is a metaphysical perspective and tries to explain the divine action through the laws of nature. The second approach is a science-based perspective and tries to solve the problem through physical indeterminations, especially in quantum mechanics. I advocate the first approach, with... 

My dissertation includes four chapters; three introductory chapters and a final conclusion. The first chpter is a comprehensive introduction to the problem of consciousness. The next chapter is allocated to representationalism, especially Michael Tye's PANIC theory, as a solution to the hard problem of consciousness and related phenomena. The third chapter is a brife look at causal theories of mental content. And the last chapter contains my arguments agaisnt Tye's theory. Apparently, mental states are of two categories; some mental states have representational content and some other have phenomenal aspect; there is something it is like to undergo latter states. Representationalism holds... 

For both Fichte and Hegel, self-consciousness is an intersubjective concept; that is, for them, self-consciousness is necessarily constituted between, at least, two subjects. In Foundations of Natural Right, Fichte introduces summons and recognition as necessary conditions of self-consciousness, without which, i.e. an other who is calling upon the subject, the subject cannot be conscious at all. Hegel, in Phenomenology of Spirit, also says self-consciousness is desire which is satisfied only in another (self-) consciousness. Based on these ideas, I try to show that self-consciousness can be defined as having the both in view; the self (I) and the other (not-I), at the same time. In this... 

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been known as one of the most anonymous reasons for death around the world. This phenomenon has been under study for many years and yet it remains a question due to physiological, geometrical and computational complexity. Due to limitation in experimental study on human head, the finite element human head model with precise geometric characteristics and mechanical properties is essential. In this study, the visco-hyperelastic parameters of bovine brain extracted from experimental data and finite element simulations which validated by experimental results. Then a 3D human head including brain, skull, and the meninges is modeled using CT-scan and MRI data... 

To answer the explanabilty of consciousness, we have first clarified the terms “consciousness”, “explanation”, and “physic”, concluding that consciousness and physics should be integrated in a single unified explanatory system. The common problem we have targeted in this work is “direct observation”. Then, inspired by Bergson, we have suggested that ,in direct observation, there is a unity between observer and the observed, out of which the qualitative characteristic of experience or qualia is constructed. Following computer graphic courses, this unity is called “rendering unity”. In the next scientific step, by analyzing the Wigner’s friend paradox, we have stipulated that, in direct... 

In the present era consciousness problem and the relationship between mind and matter as one of the historical and difficult philosophical issues has entered in different scientific fields such as neuroscience, cognitive science and physics. With the introduction of quantum theory and offering its different interpretations, some claimed that understanding the consciousness problem will be possible in the light of quantum theory and some claimed that consciousness is necessary for correct understanding of the quantum theory. Henry Stapp and David Bohm, two prominent physicists with two different approaches to quantum theory try to describe this problem from their point of view. Henry Stapp... 

According to Penrose-Hameroff's theory, Consciousness as an undeniable reality can, in some cases, be explained by a kind of orchestrated objective reduction of the wave function in the cytoskeleton of the brain neurons. Here, I have presented the subject, problem, and claim of this theory, as well as its argument, which consists of three main premises. In the first premise, first by rejecting the opposing theories and then by presenting reasons, it is shown that human thinking is, in some manner, sound but non-computable, and at the same time, accepting the Non-computability of human thinking requires believing in the objects in the universe that are non-computable, but They can be...