- I am an Emeritus Professor of psychiatry and philosophy with an interest in quantum brain theory, ontology and dreaming.edit
When so much is being written on conscious experience, it is past time to face the question whether experience happens that is not conscious of itself. The recognition that we and most other living things experience non-consciously has... more
When so much is being written on conscious experience, it is past time to face the question whether experience happens that is not conscious of itself. The recognition that we and most other living things experience non-consciously has recently been firmly supported by experimental science, clinical studies, and theoretic investigations; the related if not identical philosophic notion of experience without a subject has a rich pedigree. Leaving aside the question of how experience could become conscious of itself, I aim here to demonstrate that the terms experience and consciousness are not interchangeable. Experience is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down, but I see non-conscious experience as based mainly in momentary sensations, relational between bodies or systems, and probably common throughout the natural world. If this continuum of experience — from non-conscious, to conscious, to self-transcending awareness — can be understood and accepted, radical constructivism (th...
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To my mind (pace Heidegger) the enormous focus on consciousness and experience in contemporary philosophy is a continuation of metaphysical mistakes made by the Socratic philosophers and carried forward to this day, requiring... more
To my mind (pace Heidegger) the enormous focus on consciousness and experience in contemporary philosophy is a continuation of metaphysical mistakes made by the Socratic philosophers and carried forward to this day, requiring “deconstruction” (in its technical postmodern sense). My view is that Existenz is “between-two,” between two quantum thermofield theoretical modes in the ground (vacuum) state of quantum brain dynamics. In the belonging-together (matching) of dual thermofield modes, Existenz is unfolded as explicate world-thrownness. Discussion of conscious and non-conscious experience, even at Nixon’s perspicuous level, are unfortunately off the mark.
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Abstract: In waking Existenz (pace Heidegger) we always find ourselves already thrown amidst the world, whereas in lucid dream Existenz there is this remarkable difference: we actually throw the world. The operation of intentionality—the... more
Abstract: In waking Existenz (pace Heidegger) we always find ourselves already thrown amidst the world, whereas in lucid dream Existenz there is this remarkable difference: we actually throw the world. The operation of intentionality—the brain’s self-tuning capability—is discussed with respect to its role in lucid world throwing. The ability to throw authentic worlds while lucidly dreaming raises doubts about the seeming transcendence of world during waking and opens the monadological possibility that we actually throw the world during waking too. To appropriate Freud’s dictum: the lucid dream is via regia not to the unconscious mind but to world as such.
Research Interests: Philosophy and DREAM
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Heideggerian theory is retrieved as a dynamics, the "Godly event" of das Ereignis ("enowning"), which is unexpectedly compatible with a version of quantum brain dynamics. In both the "between" (das Zwischen)... more
Heideggerian theory is retrieved as a dynamics, the "Godly event" of das Ereignis ("enowning"), which is unexpectedly compatible with a version of quantum brain dynamics. In both the "between" (das Zwischen) has the fundamental role of the dis-closure that is Existenz. Heidegger's harsh critique of technology and science does not apply to revolutionary quantum brain dynamics. The crossing between Heidegger and quantum brain dynamics, as well as one fundamental ontological difference, illuminates both. To our surprise this difference turns out, contra Heidegger, to be monadological. The monadological conception is applied to long-standing problematics of measurement in quantum physics and consciousness in philosophy. Heideggerian Existenz is affirmed as fundamentally non-computational but is reformulated as a dynamical process of monadological dis-closure that radically deconstructs transcendent world.
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The appearing of world is approached via the dream world which has generally been thought to be merely derivative: a "composition" of memory traces from waking life, which are merged and fused into a dream world that in some... more
The appearing of world is approached via the dream world which has generally been thought to be merely derivative: a "composition" of memory traces from waking life, which are merged and fused into a dream world that in some instances can be indiscernable from the world of waking life. Two dreams are presented which challenge the composition theory of dream formation. An alternative unified theory of world appearance in both waking and dreaming is proposed, which makes use of developments in quantum brain dynamics. For this "monadological" proposal the wake world and the dream world are ontologically at parity. This surprising conclusion extends the quantum revolution to our very Existenz.
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... www.JCER.com 351 Anton's syndrome is, I believe, commonly misunderstood in the way that Nixon does. It is widely thought the patient is blind—has no visual experience—and confabulates having visual experience. However ...
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... Edited by E. MacCormac and MI Stamenov. ... "Fractal Thinking: Self-organizing Brain Processes," by Earl R. Mac-Cormac is a ... of Brain, Consciousness and Mind," by Larry Vandervert,... more
... Edited by E. MacCormac and MI Stamenov. ... "Fractal Thinking: Self-organizing Brain Processes," by Earl R. Mac-Cormac is a ... of Brain, Consciousness and Mind," by Larry Vandervert, proposes "a fractal interpretation of Einstein's concept of thinking as well as James' stream of ...
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Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence, Neurology, Philosophy, Semantics, Cognition, and 4 moreTheory, Language, Thought, and Computer
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Whole-body plethysmograph measurements and challenge inhalation of carbachol were combined to assess asthmatic changes longitudinally. Airway conductance proved to be relatively stable over a 10-week period in 3 normal subjects. Five... more
Whole-body plethysmograph measurements and challenge inhalation of carbachol were combined to assess asthmatic changes longitudinally. Airway conductance proved to be relatively stable over a 10-week period in 3 normal subjects. Five asthmatics showed periodically lower conductance and greater variability. Periods of low conductance at times could be observed to precede other manifestations of oncoming major attacks. Change in conductance upon
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Research Interests: Psychophysiology, Adolescent, Brain, Humans, Female, and 4 moreSleep, Middle Aged, Adult, and Mental Fatigue
If one attempts to respond to the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright in a purely emotional manner, the impression is gained of a powerful force, an intrinsic vitality, a primitive energy-charged truth. One perceives an expression of... more
If one attempts to respond to the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright in a purely emotional manner, the impression is gained of a powerful force, an intrinsic vitality, a primitive energy-charged truth. One perceives an expression of something fundamental in the human psyche. ...
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The well-known symbol of the Tao is freshly interpreted in terms of dissipative quantum thermofield brain dynamics. The primary duality of the Tao is between two dynamical modes of operation. The secondary duality ('holes') within... more
The well-known symbol of the Tao is freshly interpreted in terms of dissipative quantum thermofield brain dynamics. The primary duality of the Tao is between two dynamical modes of operation. The secondary duality ('holes') within each mode of the Tao symbolizes creation and annihilation operations. The relation between the dual modes is 'intrinsic' in that these modes do not exist independently of their relationship. What is ontologically primary is the dual modes belonging-together in the 'between-two'. Three sources of constraint on the between-two are considered: sensory input, intention and 're-traces' of recognitions. 'Awareness', 'subjectivity', 'intentionality' and 'world' are located in the dissipative thermofield framework. On this interpretation the Tao symbol's composure is monadological.
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Abstract: The field of consciousness studies is “deconstructed” in terms of etymology, definition, and the deep involvement of perceptual consciousness in two persistently controversial areas: the hard problem of qualia and the... more
Abstract: The field of consciousness studies is “deconstructed” in terms of etymology, definition, and the deep involvement of perceptual consciousness in two persistently controversial areas: the hard problem of qualia and the measurement problem in quantum physics. An alternative to perceptual consciousness is developed within the framework of dissipative quantum thermofield brain dynamics: disclosure. Like consciousness, disclosure is constrained by sensory action, “self-action”(intention) and memory. The problematics of consciousness/brain, qualia and measurement in quantum physics are resolved by substituting disclosure for perceptual consciousness and distinguishing the phenomenal brain-p from the macroscopic quantum object brain-q. This proposal would narrow consciousness studies to the cognitive and reflexive, and opens the possibility of what might be called ‘existential studies’.
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My Editorial for this issue functions as an abstract: "Time & Experience: Twins of the Eternal Now?" is located amongst my papers:
http://unbc.academia.edu/GregoryNixon/Papers/247835/_Time_and_Experience_Twins_of_the_Eternal_Now_
http://unbc.academia.edu/GregoryNixon/Papers/247835/_Time_and_Experience_Twins_of_the_Eternal_Now_