On the question of the definition of consciousness. Consciousness as causation without information transfer

Safronov Alexey Vladimirovich

The article proposes a hypothesis that consciousness is a high-level interaction, which consists in the transmission of causality without the transmission of information. Some previously not discussed properties of consciousness are considered, including the property to occupy the position of a supersystem in relation to any system, including in relation to the states of consciousness itself, as well as the property to fill the Causal gap and the property to form a causal environment. The question of the correlation of neurophysiological approaches to the study of consciousness is considered in the example of the theory of integrated information by G. Tonini and the theory of cognitoma by K.V. Anokhin. It is concluded that Anokhin's theory has a much greater potential for development, however, this requires a new conceptual apparatus, as well as concepts of the causal environment, uncertainty and the concept of non-systems as complexes of non-interacting elements with each other.

Keywords:neural theories of consciousness, mental causation, information, theory of non-systems, causal environment