Maguire, Phil and Maguire, Rebecca (2010) Consciousness is Data Compression. Working Paper. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

In this article we advance the conjecture that conscious awareness is equivalent to data compression. Algorithmic information theory supports the assertion that all forms of understanding are contingent on compression (Chaitin, 2007). Here, we argue that the experience people refer to as consciousness is the particular form of understanding that the brain provides. We therefore propose that the degree of consciousness of a system can be measured in terms of the amount of data compression it carries out.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Keywords:	Information theory; data compression; Solomonoff induction; phenomenal experience; Turing test;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Computer Science Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	10622
Depositing User:	Phil Maguire
Date Deposited:	13 Mar 2019 16:43
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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