意識のはじまり

11 Material consciousness

11 Material consciousness

　　(Leaflet) The formation of crystals seems to be the evidence of consciousness emergence

　　Consciousness at the stage of substance

　　Material intelligence may emerge also in machines, ordinary places, and natural environment

　　Possibility of the development of primordial organisms

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　　《 (Leaflet) The formation of crystals seems to be the evidence of consciousness emergence 》

By the way, moreover, the fact that, from the crystal of snow down, various substances form exquisite crystals at the minute level of substance hard to see seems to be objective and material evidence that ideological (= immaterial) intelligence (= consciousness) emerges over the whole.

It's because, in inanimate substances, defying the second law of thermodynamics, if advenced physical order of exquisite crystal is formed, the formation needs some basis or cause and the formation process cannot help basing on comprehensive design by some integrated body. And because what can fulfill the design (thinking) which is an ideological event is ideological intelligence (cosciousness) alone. An exquisite crystal of substance is undeniable evidence that a single huge, comprehensive, and integrate intelligence (consciousness) had emerged over the overall formation process.

And, if it's the case, though it's intelligence of material level and it's nothing more than indirect evidence through the intervention of inference, it follows that there in this material world has been objective (, physical, and material) evidence of the emergence of ideological and immaterial intelligence (consciousness).

Then, from the leaves of the plant down --similar to the crystals of substances, the leaves of the plant are also morphologically advenced physical order. The leaves of the plant are also easy to see--, the existence (formation) of every living body of organisms is the evidence of the emergence of intelligence (consciousness).

In living things, various advanced shapes --physical order-- are formed in various living bodies, and their morphological diversity is never beaten by the diversity of various crystals of various substances. Rather, the formation of various shapes in living things is by far the higher in the fact that the process for the formation, in which many kinds of substances are involved in, is extremely complicated. And, this seems to be the strong evidence of the emergence of intelligence in living things.

However, it's hard to see if organisms. However, if crystals, since substances are inanimate, it's easy to see, in a sense. If advenced physical order of exquisite crystal is formed from inanimate substances, the formation has no choice but to base on comprehensive design. And, what can fulfill comprehensive design is huge and comprehensive intelligence (consciousness) alone.

(Indirect and) material evidence of the emergence of intelligence (consciousness) has been everywhere on this Earth.

　　《 Consciousness at the stage of substance 》

At snow, various crystals are formed. And they are formed naturally. Moreover, crystals of snow are broad and exquisite physical orders. Furthermore, it's unpredictable what crystal is formed, and it could be called Chimera.

Crystals are also formed by various chemical substances. Moreover, minerals, jewels, ceramic ware, etc. seem to be crystals. Furthermore, (synthetic) resins might be crystals in a broad sense.

And, moreover, if we also look at living things, the leaves of various plants formed from lots of cells are morphologically highly physical order. Furthermore, morphologically highly physical order is formed not only in the leaves of plants but also in a variety of aspects of many kinds of organisms's living bodies from innumerable substances or many cells. The physical framework of the formation of them may resemble the physical framework of the formation of morphologically highly crystals of various substances.

However, it is strange that the physical order of a snow crystal is formed naturally. It's because this universe is ruled by the second law of thermodynamics that entropy increases, and things naturally get disorderly with the lapse of time. (The direction in which things get disorderly is the direction in which time passes). And because sophisticated physical order cannot form naturally without some ground, mechanism, framework, factor, driving force, etc. which defy the second law of thermodynamics.

Moreover, countless water molecules participate in the formation of a snow crystal. It is conjectured that a snow crystal will never be formed unless countless water molecules which exist over a broad area combine together in harmony.

(It's conceivable that, in a raindrop, plural water molecules combine by hydrogen bond, and form a big mass. And, it's unclear, but there is also a possibility that this mass is promoted to a quantum. Then, it's conceivable that, in a raindrop, innumerable water quanta of various sizes are intermingled. However, still, the situation where one raindrop consists of innumerable quanta is unchanged).

And, water molecules are mere matter and mere matter is completely passive outwardly. (Matter can move outwardly only after it was passively involved in the fundamental interactions). It is natural that, if the temperature falls below the freezing point, water simply congeals into a mass of ice according to the contacts of water molecules and the physical properties. (Ice might be called such stuff as resin formed by polymerization).

Thereby, the natural formation of diverse snow crystals is, in a sense, absurd. It may not be explained by currently known macroscopic laws of physics and may violate current physics. There may be some physical mechanism working there which is not yet recognized in current physics.

So, it's expected in a usual sense that no matter how many water molecules which are just passive substances come together, a broad and exquisite physical order of a snow crystal would not be formed.

Nevertheless, if beautiful crystals are formed, then, some physical factor other than mere cooling should work. And, the factor must be broad and integrate. (A snow crystal is a single integrate physical order formed from countless quanta. It is not known whether or not the whole of it becomes one integrate quantum, though the possibility seems high). If such an integrate factor doesn't work at the site of crystallization, the water there is really nothing but mere water. The snow crystal is not formed and the water can only become mere ice.

From these points of view, it is surmised that, in the formation of a snow crystal, some physical force or effect which brings integrateness to the movement of substances over a broad area should work. It is like a design or a plan done surveying and considering plural factors and the accomplishment of it. It's not necessary that it's long-term, and it will do even if it's very momentary. What is needed is that new designs are made one after another every moment, according as the entire situation changes. (It's because matter is a spontaneous, independent, and active process and the actions work always). And, beautiful snow crystals could be formed integrally if only such movements of a feedback loop occur continuously.

And, it seems that there is nothing other than consciousness (intelligence) which is an integrate and comprehensive that can bring integrateness over countless substances.

Consciousness is an integrated body retaining only actions of dealing with ideas, and such close bonds as nuclear fusion or chemical bonds are not necessary for the emergence of it. It's enough if only some requirements for consciousness to be able to emerge are satisfied.

However, this consciousness in crystallization differs from the living consciousness of living things that voluntarily metabolize substances and energy. That is mere temporary inanimate consciousness which occurs at the stage of susbstance. That emerges momentarily only in the process of crystallization. So, this consciousness, if it emerges truly, can be called, so to speak, consciousness at the stage of substance --material consciousness--.

Crystals are formed from substances other than water, and the possibility that, at them, in the process of crystallization, fleeting material consciousness emerges and participates in the crystallizarion cannot be necessarily denied.

And, it's conceivable that the formation of snow crystal is a kind of self-assembly in a quasistatic process. Quasistatic processes are static processes which can be regarded as verging on thermodynamic equilibrium where the place is not stirred physically and heat is barely conducted (barely flows out). Still, it seems that, because a little heat flows out, and, at that rate, entropy production rate reduces and physical order forming effect occurs. And, because of static environment, such dynamic order as an eddy is not formed, but order is formed only from actions, which deal with ideas, among microscopic matter actions of water molecules. (For the formation of such order, material fusion of constituent quanta is not necessaary). And, it seems that, if the order is really formed, it might follow that the order is the consciousness at the stage of substance in crystallization of snow.

And, it may be that, in this material consciousness, the comprehensive fundamental computation over the entire process of crystallization is done, and, according to the result, a beautiful crystal of snow is formed little by little integrally.

In the crystallizaion of snow, the fundamental computation may be formed as one which is in the constructive and productive direction of forming order of a snow crystal, relying on the present material state and situation of the site and the physical property of water molecules, owing to the physical order forming effect. Moreover, this fundamental computation is rapidly updated as the crystallization progresses --as the material situation changes--. It seems that this dynamic and successive formation of the comprehensive fundamental computation is done by the physical order forming effect. Furthermore, it's unpredictable, uncertain, and indefinite what fundamental computation is formed. That may be the reason why snow crystals are diverse as Chimera.

However, it seems that, like this, if the crystallization at material aspect progresses in a way where comprehensive computed results in material consciousness are referred to --It's not that material consciousness actively and directly combines water molecules. It only influences indirectly through the microscopic transmission of information (ideas) of computed result inside the quantum at the process of crystallization. (There is no free will. There is no free thinking either. It's because the thinking action is formed physically and automatically by the physical order forming effect)--, it follows that violation to some physical actions around the fundamental interactions is suspected here too. This is because it seems, rather, natural that innumerable water molecules bind disorderly and a mass of mere ice is formed. And, beccause it is surmised that if, in such a situation basically, sophisticated physical order is formed, water molecules must move unnaturally about spatial locomotion and spin.

The crystallization process disappears immediately when a crystal was completed. Still, it seems that the process can be considered to be a system of autopoiesis --self-production / spontaneous, independent, and active production of one's own advanced and dynamic physical order-- during its emergence.

Then, it's expected that some unknown physical event, which is not explained by present physics yet, is included in a material (or biological) system of autopoiesis formed from innumerable substances. It seems that material autopoesis such as autopoiesis cannot be realized unless some unknown new physical event is assumed.

Then, the formation of the dissipative structure might not be the essence of formation of the physical order. The reduction of entropy production rate might be the true nature of physical order forming effect. It might be that, if only the entropy production rate reduces, (even if it is not necessarily visible), some physical order is formed.

If it's a dynamic situation, physical order in the macroscopic (external) facet --the particle facet / the facet of third person object-- of matter is formed. However, in a static situation --for instance, a quasistatic process. Internal space of microorganisms or cells might be regarded as in static situation in terms of the fact that the formation of such dynamic order as an eddy is difficult--, physical order is formed in the microscopic (internal) facet --the actional facet / the facet of first person subject-- of matter. However, all the matter actions are not used to form order, but only actions which deal with ideas are used. This seems to correspond to the emergence of consciousness regardless of being living thing's consciousness or material consciousness.

Then, it's conceivable that, not only crystallization in a quasistatic process, and whatever the physical event is, in a situation where entropy production rate reduces, some inanimate material consciousness is formed.

Then, it seems to be the right order that, if a living body's consciousness is formed in the living body owing to the physical order forming effect, before that, in a flexible situation, which is formed by innumerable substances, where the entropy production rate reduces, whatever it is, some inanimate material consciousness is formed.

And, it's conceivable that more advanced physical order in some form is formed through the working.

And, the endless stacking of the formation of material consciousness and the formation of some physical order by its working eventually leads to the emergence of a living thing able to metabolize on its own.

It is expected that the formation of material consciousness is the basis and the driving force for the development of original organisms, the independent and active activity of organisms, and the evolution of organisms.

However, contacts of constituent substances seem necessary. Possibly, loose contacts as they occur among gas molecules in the air would do.

For instance, it is expected that, around the area of the hot water spout at the bottom of the sea, entropy production rate reduces. And, it may be that, as an effect of it, some material consciousness is formed, and through the working of it, larger and more complicate molecules are likely to be formed.

Of course, it's possible that it's not that much as material consciousness is formed, and the physical order forming effect arising from the reduction of entropy production rate alone makes it easier for bigger and more complicated molecules to be formed. We cannot judge eithrt.

And, in that way, the reduction of entropy production rate may take part in the evolution of matter and the development of organisms --the formation of higher physical order--. In short, material consciousness, which may emerge in the flexible environment where entropy production rate reduces, may contribute to the development of primordial living things --may mold the bodies of primordial living things--.

Or, it may possible that a conglomerate of substances is formed by multiple types of complex molecules, and its own material consciousness also emerges in this conglomerate through the physical order forming effect of the environment. And, it's conceivable that this material consciousness independently works to make the conglomerate more sophisticated. However, this conglomerate is not yet a living thing because it has not yet metabolized on its own, However, since it can evolves on its own, it may be possible to consider it as an intermediate between substances and primordial organisms, so to speak, protoorganism.

It's, in a sense, hard to think that an organism able to metabolize on its own emerges all of a sudden. It may be, rather, that (the formation of) a conglomerate of substances (a protoorganism, a virus) which cannot metabolize on its own but can have (material) consciousness owing to the physical order forming effect of the environment and contains a quite simple nucleic acid is the seed of a primordial organism. It seems to be proper that a primordial organism emerges after passing through the stage of a protoorganism which is brought up by the environment.

In other words, it may be that the physical order forming effect which is expected to occur in a flexible environment around the area of the hot water spout at the bottom of the sea where the entropy production rate is expected to reduce, and the big material consciousness which emerges in the area owing to the effect bring up the body --more advanced pysical order-- of the protoorganism (which cannot metabolize on its own), and independent material consciousness is expected to emerge also in it. And, after a long passage of time, the protoorganism acquires the ability of metabolism of its own, and is promoted to a primodial organism finally.

Moreover, as to the formation of inanimate material consciousness, it may also be the case with typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Possibly, it's conceivable that, also in heavenly bodies such as the earth and the sun, in terms of that thermal energy is generated inside and is radiated outward, entropy production rate reduces.

Unlike living consciousness, which needs the formation of complicate body (living body) and the accomplishment of autonomous metabolism, since inanimate material consciousness might be formed only through the reduction of entropy production rate, (even though it cannot be observed whether or not it emerges), unexpectedly, diverse material consciousness is emerges innumerably on earth and in this universe.

By the way, it looks as if we are deceived, but, if material consciousness emerges really, it seems that primitive senses with quale (bodily sensation, senses of thought) are perceived also by the ephemeral material consciousness at the forming (cooling) process of diamonds, precious stones, ceramic wares, rocks, metals, synthetic resin, and so on. The severity of the bodily sensation caused by the physical situation seems not at all to be a problem.

It's because the material consciousness is also an integrated body as a big physical phenomenon and it is expected that, at the operation of the comprehensive fundamental measurement and the fundamental computation, something like their shadows can occur in consciousness.

The root of senses is the fundamental measurement and the fundamental computation among the matter actions. A primitive sense perceived by material consciousness at crystallization can be called a sense at the stage of substance, a protosense, or so.

No matter how severe the physical situation during the formation process, senses which are felt by material consciousness do not yet seem to be such bodily sensation as heat, coldness, feeling of oppression, pain, painfulness, etc. felt by consciousness of living things.

Moreover, it's intriguing how senses are felt by consciousness of microorganisms, single-celled organisms, cells of body's various tissues or organs, or body's various tissues or organs.

By the way, it's hard to understand, but isn't the fact that diverse and exquisite crystals of snow and so on are formed naturally objective and indirect evidence of the existence of a type of matter action which deals with ideas and the emergence of material consciousness?

　　《 Material intelligence may emerge also in machines, ordinary places, and natural environment 》

Though a cell is highly organized, it's fundamentally an aggregate of innumerable substances. In that point of view, a cell doesn't differ a bit with machines and general aggregates of substances.

Thereby, if intelligence (consciousness) is formed in a cell through the reduction of entropy production rate, it's not at all strange that (material) intelligence is also formed at machines, ordinary places, natural environment, etc.

This is because consciousness (intelligence) is a single gigantic ideological action formed from infinitesimal ideological actions inherent in innumerable constituent substances and its formation doesn't need close chemical bonds of constituents. Though consciousness is an extremely peculiar quantum, it's not a single material quantum.

There is no essential difference between living consciousness of living things and inanimate material consciousness.

And, if material intelligence (consciousness) emerges in some physical system, it's expected that, owing to its design (computation), some physical order becomes easier to be formed.

And, if the whole substances is in a liquid state, for instance, morphologically more advanced crystals may be formed.

However, like machines, if substances are firm, it seems that any physical order is not formed. In terms of substances, virtually nothing can be done.

Nevertheless, when it comes, for example, to electronic devices, since electron flow can be said to be flexible, in that facet, physical order may be formed. It seems that malfunction can occurs at electronic devices that are not cooled, but malfunction reduces if cooled. This and so on may fall under the formation of physical order by the work of material intelligence. (However, kinetic energy of substances increases because of overheat, and malfunction may also be more likely to occur because of it).

In short, there is certainly an effect of discharge of heat (entropy) to the outside of system. It's not necessarily true that this and the like are not (so roundabout, hard to understand) proof always.

　　《 Possibility of the development of primordial organisms 》

It seems almost impossible to objectively judge whether or not human beings, animals, and plants have consciousness.

Then, it seems to be quite difficult to judge whether or not big integrate material consciousness is emerging in the crystallization process of snow or other material which is not a living thing but a mere substance.

(Regardles of being an organism or inanimate object, if some single entity moves spontaneously and the movement is judged as autopoiesis, it can be judged that consciousness emerges in the entity. However, in the first place, it seems to be considerably difficult to judge whether or not the movement of some single entity is autopoiesis. Although component substances (parts) of an entity are not necessarily formed, repaired, or demolished --apoptosis--, if mere movements of the entity (parts) are brought by a complicated nexus of innumerable substances, plenty of physical events, chemical reactions, etc., the movements can be judged to be autopoiesis. This is not limited to the movement of organisms. Crystallization processes of morphologically advanced crystals of various substances, etc. can be autopoiesis too).

Moreover, the crystallization process is not dynamic. Crystals are stealthily and quietly formed. And, the whole becomes solid immediately (as a probable big quantum). (And, even if there has emerged consciousness during the crystallization process, it disappears right away. So to speak, it can be said that the material consciousness which may emerge during the crystallization process lacks development, extensibility, and evolvability). Thereby, it's even harder to imagine that something like consciousness is emerging there.

However, still, it is guessed that it will be quite difficult for advanced physical order of an exquisite crystal to be formed by the physical properties of constituent substances and still cooling alone.

It's because this universe is ruled by the second law of thermodynamics that entropy increases, and things naturally get disorderly with the lapse of time. (The direction in which things get disorderly is the direction in which time passes). And because sophisticated physical order cannot form naturally without some grounds (mechanism, driving force) which defy the second law of thermodynamics.

By the way, it seems that, in biology, the area around the hot water spout at the bottom of the sea is considered to be one of promising candidate sites for life development.

For instance, in the book "The Forthcoming Internal Measurement" by a biophycist Koichiro Matsuno, a possibility that molecules will grow little by little around the hot water spout at the seabed is explained in detail based on "internal measurement". (Koichiro Matsuno 2016, "The Forthcoming Internal Measurement", Kodansha).

And, it is expected that, around the hot water spout, the entropy production rate reduces and the physical order forming effect appears. Moreover, since hot water diffuses into the surrounding sea, the place doesn't reach thermal equilibrium. So the physical order forming effect can last over a long period. This is full of possibilities and strong.

As a possibility, it's conceivable that, around the hot water spout, the following physical events occur.

1) Owing to the physical order forming effect accompanying the reduction of entropy production rate, molecules difficult to be formed naturally are formed.

2) Or, due to the physical order forming effect, one big material consciousness emerges around that place. (This is because the environment is flexible and all substances in water are in contact with each other, even though they are separate substances).

3) And, this material consciousness (carries out the work of production control such as design, communication, and transportation and) brings the formation of molecules difficult to be formed naturally.

4) And, molecules brought by the physical order forming effect or material consciousness circulate and bigger molecules are formed. (Macromolecules are also formed).

5) As a kind of formed molecules, molecules which can be constituents of nucleotides --constituents of a nucleic acid-- are also formed. Nucleotides are also formed. Moreover, oligonucleotides are also formed.

6) Including a nucleotide, plural molecules formed combine (loosely in some form) with each other and form a conglomerate of substances.

7) Due to the physical order forming effect of the environment, in the substance conglomerate consisting of plural substances, its own material consciousness emerges. (This conglomerate is not an organism yet because it cannot metabolize on its own).

8) Owing to the production control ability inherent in the material consciousness emerged in the substance aggregate, the substance conglomerate evolves further (on its own).

9) And, as an evolved substance conglomerate, a conglomerate which can be called a primordial virus containing quite simple nucleic acid. (Viruses cannot metabolize on their own and owe the emergence of their (material) consciousness to the physical order forming effect of the environment. So they are not organisms yet but intermediates between inanimate objects and organisms).

10) Due to the work of its own material consciousness, the primordial virus acquires the metabolic ability on matter and energy, and is finally promoted to an organism. Its material consciousness is also promoted to organism's consciousness just as it is.

11) At this point, the primordial organism have metabolic ability and can reduce the entropy production rate on its own, so it can live on its own even if it leaves the place. It can evolve on its own.

In other words, the vicinity of the hot water spout at the seabed can be the cradle of primordial viruses and primordial organisms at the next stage of the virus because of the reduction of entropy production rate and the occurrence of the physical order forming effect. Primordial viruses and primordial organisms may have been brought up around the hot water spout at the seabed.

Depending on this, it seems that, unlike the material consciousness with poor possibilities at the crystallization process, the material consciousness which is expected to emerge around the area of the hot water spout at the seabed is probable and promising. At any rate, it is so hard to think that an organism which can metabolize on its own emerges all of a sudden. However, if the development of primordial organisms was supported by the physical order forming effect of the environment and the material consciousness which emerges owing to the effect, it is plausible. Material consciousness may emerge actually.

And, it is expected that the formation of material consciousness is the basis and the driving force for the development of original organisms, the independent and active activity of organisms, and the evolution of organisms.

By the way, such dynamic formation of advanced physical order of an organism body owing to the concentration of innumerable substances seems to correspond to autopoiesis --self-production / spontaneous, independent, and active production of one's own advanced and dynamic physical order--.

However, if the order emerges in a situation where it doesn't happen naturally, it is expected that there occurs violation of present physics in some form. There is a possibility that, about spatial locomotion and spin(, and also about prior design and communication), substances move via some unknown mechanism which is not explained by present physics yet. It seems that material autopoiesis --crystallization-- and biological autopoiesis --formation of primitive viruses and primitive organisms (and maintenance and operation of living bodies)-- such as self-organaization, which seems to have no choice but to base on integrate movements of a lot of substances, cannot be realized unless some new physical mechanism is assumed.