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An Axiomatic Theory of
Consciousness
Dennis Blejer
School of Practical Philosophy
and Meditation, Boston
11 October 2009
Towards an Understanding of the
Primacy of Consciousness
Introduction – Corona Trew
The Nature of Consciousness, 1971

Consciousness is the primary fact of our
human experience and yet it is not
susceptible to scientific proof; it can only be
realized as a personal awareness.
It stands like an axiom in mathematics, the
starting point of all experience. Each of us
is aware that he is conscious, that he is here
and awake, and yet cannot prove this
awareness directly to anyone else.
Introduction – Max Planck

I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as
derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind
consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that
we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.
(The Observer, Jan. 25, 1931).

As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear
headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result
of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as
such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force
which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this
most minute solar system of the atom together. We must
assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and
intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.
(The Nature of Matter, Florence, Italy, 1944).
Outline


Introduction
What is an axiomatic theory?
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

Criteria for scientific theories
What is an axiom?
Examples of axiomatic theories
Advaita Vedanta as an axiomatic
theory of consciousness
Beyond Axioms
Criteria for Scientific Theories

Any serious consideration of a physical theory must take into account
the distinction between the objective reality, which is independent of
any theory, and the physical concepts with which the theory operates.
These concepts are intended to correspond with the objective reality,
and by means of these concepts we picture this reality to ourselves.
In attempting to judge the success of a physical theory, we may ask
ourselves two questions: (1) “Is the theory correct?” and (2) “Is the
description given by the theory complete?” It is only in the case in
which positive answers may be given to both of these questions, that
the concepts of the theory may be said to be satisfactory.
The correctness of the theory is judged by the agreement between the
conclusions of the theory and human experience. This experience,
which alone enables us to make inferences about reality, in physics
takes the form of experiment and measurement.
From: Can Quantum Mechanical Description of Physical Reality be Considered Complete?
A. Einstein, B. Podolsky and N. Rosen, Physical Review, May 15, 1935.
Criteria for Scientific Theories

A theory is a good theory if it satisfies two requirements:
It must accurately describe a large class of observations
on the basis of a model that contains only a few arbitrary
elements, and it must make definite predictions about the
results of future observations… Any physical theory is
always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis;
you can never prove it. No matter how many times the
results of experiments agree with some theory, you can
never be sure that the next time the result will not
contradict the theory.
On the other hand, you can disprove a theory by finding
even a single observation that disagrees with the
predictions of the theory.
From: A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawkings.
The Nature of Scientific Theories



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Correct (agree with observation and measurement)
Complete (explain everything in its domain)
Based on a few elements (the simpler the better)
Able to make predictions
There are no proofs of scientific theories,
only corroboration
Outline


Introduction
What is an axiomatic theory?





Criteria for scientific theories
What is an axiom?
Examples of axiomatic theories
Advaita Vedanta as an axiomatic
theory of consciousness
Beyond Axioms
Axiom
(Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary)

Axiom: n. (from Gk. axioun to think
worthy).
1: a maxim widely accepted on its intrinsic merit.
2: a statement accepted as true as the basis for
argument or inference: POSTULATE.
3: an established rule or principle or a self-evident truth.

An axiomatic theory is a theory based
on axioms
Outline


Introduction
What is an axiomatic theory?





Criteria for scientific theories
What is an axiom?
Examples of axiomatic theories
Advaita Vedanta as an axiomatic
theory of consciousness
Beyond Axioms
Euclidean Geometry

The axioms of geometry were the
most brilliant and the most “scientific”
example of statements which were
valid “a priori” and therefore of an
eternal validity which could never be
shaken by any advance in science.
From: Einstein’s Philosophy of Science, Phillip
Frank, Reviews of Modern Physics, July, 1949.
Euclidean Geometry


Common notion 1. Things which are equal to the
same thing are also equal to one another.
Postulate 5. If a straight line falling on two straight
lines make the interior angles on the same side less
than two right angles, the two straight lines, if
produced indefinitely, meet on that side on which
are the angles less than the two right angles.
Euclidean Geometry

On Postulate 5: When we consider the countless
successive attempts made through more than
twenty centuries to prove the Postulate, many of
them by geometers of ability, we cannot but
admire the genius of the man who concluded that
such a hypothesis, which he found necessary to
the validity of his whole system of geometry, was
really indemonstrable.
(Sir Thomas Heath, Euclid: The Thirteen Books of the Elements)
On the Method of Theoretical Physics,
Einstein Lecture, Oxford, 1933

A complete system of theoretical physics
consists of concepts and basic laws…
this is really exactly analogous to Euclidean
geometry, except that in the latter the basic
laws are called ‘axioms’…
but if we conceive Euclidean geometry as…
a physical science (of space)…
the logical parallelism of geometry and
theoretical physics is complete.
Newton’s Principia
Axioms, Or the Laws of Motion



Law 1: Every body perseveres in its state of being
at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward,
except insofar as it is compelled to change its state
by forces impressed.
Law 2: A change in motion is proportional to the
motive force impressed and takes place along the
straight line which that force is impressed.
Law 3: To any action there is always an opposite
and equal reaction; in other words, the actions of
two bodies upon each other are always equal and
always opposite in direction.
Classical Physics

From Newton’s Laws comes:

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Celestial and Terrestrial Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics

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Solid Mechanics
Thermodynamics

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
Acoustics, Hydrodynamics, & Aerodynamics
Conservation of energy (1st Law)
No process is possible whose sole result is the
complete conversion of heat into work (2nd Law)
Electromagnetism

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Conservation of charge
Coulomb’s Law, Ampere’s Law, Faraday’s Law, etc.
Relativity Theory

Special Relativity
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Constancy of the velocity of light
Principle of relativity
General Relativity

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Equivalence of accelerating frames of
reference to gravitational fields
Equivalence of all frames of reference for
expressing the laws of physics
Quantum Physics


Energy is quantized
Quantum Theory From Five Reasonable Axioms
Lucien Hardy, Centre for Quantum Computation,
The Clarendon Laboratory, Parks road, Oxford
OX1 3PU, UK, February 1, 2008,
http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0101012v4

Quantum Mechanics:
Structures, Axioms, and Paradoxes
Diederick Aierts, Brussels Free University,
http://www.vub.ac.be/CLEA/aerts/publications/1999EinmagIndigo.pdf
Eugene Wigner – Nobel Laureate

When the province of physical theory was
extended to encompass microscopic
phenomena through the creation of
quantum mechanics, the concept of
consciousness came to the fore again.
It was not possible to formulate the laws of
quantum mechanics in a fully consistent way
without reference to consciousness.
(quoted in Quantum Enigma, B. Rosenblum and F. Kuttner).
Physics is Axiomatic

Scientific Method
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Synthesis of observation and reason
Leads to the formulation of physical laws (axioms)
Has led to the development of Quantum Physics
(supreme achievement of science)
Interpretations of Quantum Physics require the
existence of a conscious observer for anything to
happen and for there to be a physical reality
Outline


Introduction
What is an axiomatic theory?





Criteria for scientific theories
What is an axiom?
Examples of axiomatic theories
Advaita Vedanta as an axiomatic
theory of consciousness
Beyond Axioms
Consciousness



An axiomatic approach to
consciousness is entirely appropriate
An axiomatic theory of consciousness
already exists and has existed for
some time
It is known as Advaita Vedanta
Summary Statement of
Advaita Vedanta (Shankara)

Brahma satyam
jagan mithyaa
jiivo brahmaiva naa’parah.

Brahman is real,
the world is an illusion,
the self is not-different from the Brahman.

Brahman represents universal consciousness
Shankara: Commentary on the
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

“Therefore the whole universe…
is transient, impure, flimsy, resembling a
flowing river or a burning lamp, flimsy like a
banana stalk, and comparable to foam,
illusion, a mirage, a dream, and so on –
appears, nevertheless to those who have
identified themselves with it to be
undecaying, eternal and full of substance.”
(I.v.2).
Mahaavaakyas
Great Vedic Dictums (Axioms)

Tat tvam asi – That thou art
(Ch. Up. 6.8.7)


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Ayam Aatmaa Brahma – This self is
Brahman (Br. Up. 2.5.19)
Prajnaanam Brahma – Consciousness
is Brahman (Ait. Up. 3.1.3)
Aham Brahmaasmi – I am Brahman
(Br. Up. 1.4.10)
Other Vedic Dictums

All this is Brahman. This is born from,
dissolves in, and exists in That.
(Ch. Up. 3.14.1)

All that is in front is but Brahman, the
immortal. Brahman is behind, Brahman
is on the right, as well as on the left;
above and below, too, is extended
Brahman alone. This world is nothing
but Brahman, the highest.
(Mu. Up. 2.2.11)
Nature of Consciousness

Self-existent

Eternal

Unchanging

Unmoving

Un-manifest

Non-dual

Unknowable via the senses or the mind

Of the nature of a witness only
Outline


Introduction
What is an axiomatic theory?





Criteria for scientific theories
What is an axiom?
Examples of axiomatic theories
Advaita Vedanta as an axiomatic
theory of consciousness
Beyond Axioms
Beyond Axioms

Advaita Vedanta is not fundamentally an
intellectual tradition, but rather a tradition of
self-realization

What is needed to realize Brahman?
Discrimination between the eternal and the transient
2. Renunciation of the fruits of action
3. 6 Virtues: tranquility, forbearance, faith, poise,
concentration, self-control
4. Longing for liberation
1.
Does Advaita Vedanta Satisfy The
Criteria for Scientific Theories?

Is it:

Correct (agree with observation and measurement)
Complete (explain everything in its domain)
Based on a few elements (the simpler the better)
Able to make predictions
There are no proofs of scientific theories,
only corroboration




Conclusions

The primacy of consciousness cannot be
proven but can be taken as axiomatic

What matters is to demonstrate that an
axiomatic system, such as Advaita Vedanta,
is correct, complete, and answers all of the
questions of life, mind, and consciousness

Slides available at
http://djblejer.wordpress.com/
Back-up Slides
Quantum Physics

Wavefunction

Solution to QM problems

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Interpreted as a probability density
function (Born not Schrodinger!)

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Unique to QM that the solution needed
interpretation
Analogous to a mass density function
Determines the probability of detecting a
particle in particular region of space at a
particular time
QM Wavefunction

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The process of measurement or
observation causes the particular
outcome of an experiment
This has led to the conclusion that
consciousness is necessary for
“physical reality”
Schrodinger’s Cat
Schrödinger's Cat
Is the cat both dead and alive?
From: Einstein versus Bohr, Mendel Sachs
Werner Heisenberg

It should be emphasized, however, that the probability
function does not in itself represent a course of events
in the course of time… there is no description of what
happens to the system between the initial observation
and the next measurement… This looks as if we had
introduced an element of subjectivism into the theory,
as if we meant to say: what happens depends on our
way of observing it or on the fact that we observe it.
(Physics and Philosophy, 1958).

Some physicists would prefer to come back to the idea
of an objective real world whose smallest parts exist
objectively in the same sense as stones or trees exist
independently of whether we observe them. That,
however, is impossible.
(Quoted in The Conscious Universe, M. Kafatos and R. Nadeau).
Hydrogen Atom: Electron Wavefunctions
Surfaces of Constant Probability Density
From: The Picture Book of Quantum Mechanics, S. Brandt and H.D. Dahmen, 2nd edition
Einstein: On the Method of Theoretical
Physics, Lecture, Oxford, 1933

Pure logical thinking can give us no
knowledge whatsoever of the world of
experience; all knowledge about reality
begins with experience and terminates with it.

It can scarcely be denied that the supreme
goal of all theory is to make the irreducible
basic elements as simple and as few as
possible without having to surrender the
adequate representation of a single datum of
experience.
Donald Hoffman Cognitive Scientist, New York Times, 2005

I believe that consciousness and its
contents are all that exist.
Space-time, matter and fields never
were the fundamental denizens of the
universe but have always been, from
their beginning, among the humbler
contents of consciousness, dependent
on it for their very being.
The Five Sheaths that Conceal
the Truth (Shankara)

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Annamaya kosha – sheath of food or the body
(identification with skin, bone, blood, form, etc.)
Praanamaya kosha – sheath of the vital force
(identification with movement and action)
Manomaya kosha – mental sheath
(identification with feeling and thinking)
Vijnaanamaya kosha – sheath of intellect
(identification with knowing)
Aanandamaya kosha – sheath of bliss
(identification with bliss)
Bhagavad Gita – Ch VII

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, manas,
buddhi, and ahankara; thus is My Prakriti
divided eightfold

Mind is more subtle than even space
(ether)

The universe has different levels of
manifestation; not just two
(Cartesian dualism)
Shantananda Saraswati
Conversation with Leon McClaren, 1965

Take up anything and look into it seriously
and you will find that essentially it is
nothing but a manifestation of the same
consciousness, bliss and truth. Although
in the physical manifestation, color, form,
tree, juice, skin, etc. are all related to
mango, yet essentially it is that formless
consciousness, a concept of that real
knowledge which is Sachidaananda.
Plato – Dialectic
Republic, VII, 533

Then dialectic, and dialect alone
goes directly to the first principle and
is the only science which does away
with hypothesis in order to make her
ground secure; the eye of the soul,
which is literally buried in an
outlandish slough, is by her gentle
aid lifted upwards…
Does Advaita Address the
Problems of Consciousness?

David Chalmers – The Hard Problem
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How does conscious experience arise
from the processes of the brain?
What is the brain?
What does it really do?
Do computers play chess or can
machines become conscious?
What causes the body to move?