272.059 The concept of time and the hard problem of consciousness
This course is in all assigned curricula part of the STEOP.
This course is in at least 1 assigned curriculum part of the STEOP.

2011W, VO, 2.0h, 3.0EC

Properties

  • Semester hours: 2.0
  • Credits: 3.0
  • Type: VO Lecture

Aim of course

Time and consciousness are among the most basic and the most contended concepts in science and philosophy. The objective of the lecture is an in-depth introduction into these concepts including the development of novel ideas regarding the joint solution of the hard problems they pose.

Subject of course

-       three concepts of time: (1) homogeneous, symmetric parameter time, (2) anisotropic, directed time, (3) tensed time, i.e. the time containing the now.

-       The concept of time appropriate to account for motion (1) is not rich enough to account for life, the concept of time rich enough to account for biological life (2) is too poor to account for conscious life. A classification of the sciences according to the definition of time implied renders a hierarchy of increasing experiential concreteness and decreasing formal rigour. The richer a theory's account of what we experience as time, the looser become its definitions.

-       Logical problems of accounting for the Now and its travel

-       How relativity theory excludes the Now from physical reality

-       The block universe. The distinction between real change and temporal change

-       Temporal change (=passage of time): a subjective illusion?

-       Nowness and mental presence

-       Mental presence as the mode phenomenal consciousness exists in

-       Presence and reality: two modes of existing

-       Is presence, as a mode of existing, without prospects of being acknowledged scientifically?

-       The mind-body problem: How is it to explain that brains process information not only, but bring forth mental presence also?

-       The hard problem (regarding the very existence) and the easy problems (regarding the contents surfacing in experience) of consciousness

-       Mental presence and attention. How do we control the focus of attention? The problem of free will and mental causation

-       How do we distinguish mental presence from the temporal present? (1) The distinction of temporal change from focal change, (2) the temporal present and its travel are objective in the social meaning of objectivity.

-       Is there a mechanism synchronizing the Now inter-subjectively?

-       Leibniz’ idea of synchronization: pre-established harmony

-       Is there a physical re-interpretation of pre-established harmony?

-       Quantum entanglement and non-locality

-       The measurement process, understood quantum theoretically

-       Measurement and the constitution of local facts. Parameter time t and the time observable T

-       Measurement as a ubiquitous process of the constitution of facts. The concept of a growing universe (contrasting the block universe).

-       Quantum measurement and the quantum Zeno effect

-       Henry Stapp’s idea of how the quantum Zeno effect might explain the capability of steering the focus of attention freely

Lecturers

Institute

Course dates

DayTimeDateLocationDescription
Thu13:15 - 15:0020.10.2011 - 26.01.2012Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
The concept of time and the hard problem of consciousness - Single appointments
DayDateTimeLocationDescription
Thu20.10.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu27.10.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu03.11.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu10.11.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu24.11.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu01.12.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu08.12.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu15.12.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu22.12.201113:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu12.01.201213:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu19.01.201213:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH
Thu26.01.201213:15 - 15:00Projektraum DAP 1/259 - Achtung! Werkraum, kein Seminarraum! FRANCK-OBERASPACH

Examination modalities

Oral examination with two parts: 1. the examinee presents a short paper (7-8 minutes) focussing on a topic of the lecture and making use of the literature listed, 2. the examinee answers general questions concerning the subject matter of the lecture 

Course registration

Begin End Deregistration end
26.09.2011 00:00 24.10.2011 00:00 24.10.2011 00:00

Curricula

Study CodeObligationSemesterPrecon.Info
066 443 Architecture Mandatory elective
066 443 Architecture Mandatory elective
630 Spatial Planning Mandatory elective
SOF Soft Skills Not specified

Literature

No lecture notes are available.

Language

English