Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: In this article we advance the conjecture that conscious awareness is equivalent to data compression.Algorithmic information theory supports the assertion that all forms of understanding are contingent on compression (Chaitin, 2007).Here, we argue that the experience people refer to as consciousness is the particular form of understanding that the brain provides.We therefore propose that the degree of consciousness of a system can be measured in terms of the amount of data compression it carries out.
Authors: Phil Maguire, Rebecca Maguire
Institution: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W977126611