Irreducible

THE BIT, THE Q-BIT & THE MONAD

This is an in-depth examination of the nature of consciousness and the fundamental structure of reality. In this new book, Federico Faggin guides the reader on an intriguing exploration of the fundamental and inescapable aspects of consciousness and free will.  The title is an affirmation that contravenes physical monism and materialism. This implies that consciousness cannot be reduced to its physical substrate, as the prevailing mainstream worldview asserts. Therefore, consciousness is irreducible. The subtitle delineates the primary focal points where this realisation of the author plays a pivotal role: consciousness, life, computers, and human nature. The book offers a profound reappraisal of our understanding of nature, the nature of reality, and most crucially, introduces the subject of subjectivity and interiority to the study of this reality.

By proposing that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe, and indeed the aspect of the universe that creates nature, Faggin challenges the scientific orthodoxy that currently dominates the field. The notion that all phenomena can be reduced to objective data remains a predominant perspective in contemporary academic thought and wider society, reflecting the legacy of the positivistic dogma that has fallen away since the work of Goedel appeared. The concept of material reductionism was historically associated with the notion that all meaning can be reduced to objective symbols and data points, and that semantics will ultimately be reduced to syntax. Faggin, a physicist and the inventor of the integrated microprocessor, is in a unique position to reveal the futility of this argument, given his expertise and achievements in the field of computer-science and technology.

This book also teaches us other important lessons. By proposing that consciousness is a fundamental substance of reality, intricately intertwined with quantum phenomena, his idea transcends the boundaries of quantum theory, elucidating the intrinsic core of reality and its inherent interiority. These qualities, which include meaning, Free Will, self-Knowledge and universal Love, can be considered cosmic forces. These primary substances are irreducible to any other entity, existing solely in and of themselves.

It was my privilege to review Federico Faggin's inaugural publication, entitled Silicon, three years ago. Subsequently, I have formed the opinion that Faggin produces seminal work for the nascent field of consciousness studies. After reading ‘Irreducible’ I am now in a position to affirm this viewpoint with conviction. In the three years since the publication of his inaugural work, Faggin has served as an exemplar and an advocate for this new kind of science. The emphasis here is on the new kind of science of consciousness, rather than on a mere novel scientific field. The objective of these books is to demonstrate that an expanded, post-materialistic science can and should incorporate both interiority and exteriority in a complementary manner, and that this is an extremely advantageous approach.

This objective can only be attained through a process of noetic double-reflection, which entails an introspective examination of the inner self and an objective observation of the external environment. In this regard, he also puts forth a novel research paradigm that encompasses both subjective and objective perspectives. This prompts a reconsideration of our relationship with technology and education, while allowing for the possibility of unbound creativity.

The structure of the book enables the author to convey this message of liberation from a multitude of perspectives. This is a valuable and comprehensive treatise.  Despite its modest dimensions, the context presented within its pages can encompass a wealth of information, comparable to that which might be found in a comprehensive library. The author employs a style that is at once lucid, erudite, and engaging, rendering the text as lively as its meaning. Furthermore, the book offers the reader the opportunity to gain a multifaceted understanding of the subject matter from a position of intellectual freedom.

In order to demonstrate that consciousness is not an emergent property of matter but rather the source from which physical reality arises, Faggin guides us through the intricacies of quantum physics, elucidating the concept of non-locality as a fundamental aspect of the whole-part interplay. He guides us to an understanding of the fundamental nature of information and the significant differences between biological and artificial information processing systems, including digital computers and analogue artificial neural networks.

His command of these disciplines is the result of his own efforts at deep polymathy, a term used to describe a person's extensive and deep knowledge. He exemplifies the characteristics of a Renaissance man, thereby enhancing our collective understanding and promoting a renaissance of our humanity. What distinguishes a human being from an AI-computer, and a scientist from a mere servant of blind technology? The book reflects this renaissance spirit in its truest sense. It is for these reasons that I can only strongly recommend it to all students of the nascent, self-reflective and interdisciplinary science of consciousness.

To illustrate, ‘computers are our creations and incorporate only the algorithmic part of our essence. We are not computers we are creators of computers. Consciousness is our true nature because it allows us to know and comprehend...’. This quote represents a comprehensive and well-reasoned argument regarding the nature of information, meaning, and knowledge. In another instance, the distinction between living, semantic knowledge and inanimate symbolic information is elucidated succinctly, ‘...semantic knowledge is a dynamic state of consciousness that contains within itself also the sense of its own dependability, i.e., the sense of how much one can trust one’s own knowledge.’ These passages exemplify the condensed wisdom he offers. Such ideas can be developed into comprehensive research programmes on creativity, interiority/exteriority and self-identity or individuality, a ‘seity’ a concept he introduces in this book as a key issue in consciousness studies.

Federico Faggin’s concept of an irreducible-consciousness field and his notion of ‘consciousness units’ (CUs), which bears notable resemblance to the perennial Pythagorean and Leibnizian monads, offers a transformative vision that integrates consciousness into the scientific narrative. This vision challenges the material-reductionist views that have long dominated the field. In establishing a connection between consciousness and free will with regard to quantum phenomena, Faggin presents an intriguing framework for elucidating the essence of reality. His approach underscores the pervasive influence that consciousness exerts in the cosmos.

Faggin offers the following quote, from Giordano Bruno, which I believe encapsulates his approach to philosophy and his status as a modern-age polymath: ‘All things are in the universe and the universe is in all things ...in this way all things come together in perfect harmony’. Similarly, the Scientific & Medical Network and its Galileo Commission project espouse a comparable vision. Our gratitude extends to Federico for this exemplary work.