Qualia Space
In the theory of Qualia Space, consciousness is an independent, non-reducible feature of reality that exists in addition to the deepest laws of fundamental physics (i.e., the four forces, spacetime, mass-energy).
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Giulio Tononi
Neuroscientist, Psychiatrist & Professor
Giulio Tononi is an Italian neuroscientist and psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he holds chairs in Sleep Medicine and Consciousness Science. He is best known for developing Integrated Information Theory (IIT), a leading mathematical theory of consciousness.
Key Takeaways
Core Claim
Consciousness is a non-reducible, independent feature of reality alongside fundamental physical laws.
How It Works
Posits a distinct “qualia space” dimension or structure where phenomenal properties are organized.
Distinguishing Idea
Exemplified by IIT’s conceptual structures, but not necessarily universal or classic panpsychist.
Qualia Space
In the theory of Qualia Space, consciousness is an independent, non-reducible feature of reality that exists in addition to the deepest laws of fundamental physics (i.e., the four forces, spacetime, mass-energy). This heretofore unknown qualia-space aspect of the world may take the form of a radically new structure or organization of reality, perhaps a different dimension of reality.
The clearest current example would be Integrated Information Theory's (IIT) “conceptual structures” in qualia space (12). While this radically novel feature might suggest that IIT should be classified as a Panpsychism variant, I prefer to keep IIT independent but recognize the implicit connection by including “qualia space” here under Panpsychism. Note that IIT makes no claim that IIT's qualia space is ubiquitous in reality, as it would need be for IIT to be classic panpsychist in nature (Tononi and Koch, 2015). I can imagine other, distinct, non-IIT theories of consciousness founded on qualia-space.
In addition, the Qualia Research Institute's (QRI) “State-Space Consciousness Via Qualia Formalism and Valence Realism” holds that phenomenal properties are a fundamental feature of the world and aren't spontaneously created only when a certain computation is being performed” (Qualia Research Institute, n.d.). Although it “mostly fits well with a panpsychist view,” QRI members prefer to classify themselves as a dual-aspect or neutral monism (6).
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