Is Consciousness Computable?
	Posted 15 May 2007 at 20:56 UTC by steve

A new paper by Daegene Song titled, "Non-Computability of Consciousness" (PDF format), suggests consciousness may not be a computable process. The paper is heavy on math and light on explanation but it appears there is an assumption in the proof that consciousness is a quantum phenomenon. Based on his assumptions, the author believes he has proved a limited case in which this theorized quantum consciousness is not computable. But he allows that a more complete mathematically analysis may produce different results. Even if he is correct, the phenomenon in question is fully representable on a quantum computer, so all is not lost for those who hope to build conscious machines. The connection between consciousness and quantum phenomena has been proposed before, notably by Penrose, but with very little evidence so far to back up the idea. Their reasoning appears to be, as Philosopher David Chalmers has noted, that "consciousness is mysterious and quantum mechanics is mysterious, so maybe the two mysteries have a common source".

Just my two cents short of a beautiful mind, posted 16 May 2007 at 18:46 UTC by The Swirling Brain » (Master)

Just my random thoughts:

So far I haven't been able to make consciousness artificial intelligence software that is self aware, SO, I have given up trying to make it and have declared it impossible for everyone! Therefore, such AI self aware software can not be possible through software and only be possible by some such other method that I'm not aware of. I have named the this "other" method the unknown method or "phenomena" for short. This special case is to cover the case in that someone actually does figure it out that I surmised that since consciousness in humans exists that there might be an unknown case to figure it. Since all good phenomena needs a buzz word, I have called it the "quantum phoenomena!" "Quantum" because no one knows what a quantum really is and "phoenomena" because by definition no one knows what it is. Therefore, I have proven that I don't know how to make self aware ai software and since no one else does yet either the only other case would therefore fall into the unknown category of quantum phoenomena. Obviously, quantum phoenomena does not compute. So I have proven the non-computability of consciousness!

Hear Hear, posted 17 May 2007 at 11:46 UTC by c6jones720 » (Journeyer)

After reading the first couple of pages I am inclined to agree with Swirling Brain. Also its hard to see how the turing machine example presented is either relevant or practical as an example of AI.