Some mind-ponderers…argue that consciousness is unsolvable. Philosopher Owen Flanagan calls these pessimists “mysterians,” after the 60’s-era rock group “Question Mark and the Mysterians.”
Recently, physicist Edward Witten came out as a mysterian. Witten is regarded with awe by his fellow physicists, some of whom have compared him to Einstein and Newton. He is largely responsible for the popularity of string theory over the past several decades…
Witten is optimistic about science’s power to solve mysteries, such as why there is something rather than nothing…[But] Witten is pessimistic about the prospects for a scientific explanation of consciousness…
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[“]I think consciousness will remain a mystery[,” stated Witten. “]I have a much easier time imagining how we understand the Big Bang than I have imagining how we can understand consciousness…[“]Just because Witten is a genius does not mean he is infallible…[H]e could be wrong that consciousness will never be explained. I nonetheless find it newsworthy—and refreshing—that a scientist of his caliber is talking so candidly about the limits of science.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: World’s Smartest Physicist Thinks Science Can’t Crack Consciousness
