Mason Jonathan W D
Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK.
Entropy (Basel). 2021 Oct 31;23(11):1444. doi: 10.3390/e23111444.
The unity of consciousness, or, more precisely, phenomenal unity, is an important property of consciousness and an important area of research in mathematical consciousness science and the scientific study of consciousness. Due to the numerous aspects and complexity of consciousness, the property tends to engender loose or inadequate characterizations. In this article, we introduce the concept and mathematical formulation of model unity. A system has model unity if a single relational model, stretched across the whole system, is optimal. Alternatively, model unity may only be present for subsystems, although there may still be unity at some higher level. As a development in the theory of expected float entropy minimisation, such relational models provide an interpretation of system states and the theory may help to provide insights into questions such as why experience of the visual field is unified and why different people do not have a unified consciousness, for example. This article constitutes a relatively small initial study of model unity. Four investigations were undertaken and are given as examples. A postulate is also given, distilling the foundations of EFE minimisation into a clear statement allowing others to consider whether or not the postulate identifies a self-evident fundamental property of consciousness.
意识的统一性，或者更确切地说，现象统一性，是意识的一个重要属性，也是数学意识科学和意识科学研究中的一个重要研究领域。由于意识具有诸多方面且十分复杂，该属性往往会导致描述松散或不充分。在本文中，我们介绍了模型统一性的概念和数学表述。如果一个跨越整个系统的单一关系模型是最优的，那么这个系统就具有模型统一性。或者，模型统一性可能仅存在于子系统中，尽管在某些更高层次上可能仍然存在统一性。作为预期浮动熵最小化理论的一个发展，这样的关系模型为系统状态提供了一种解释，并且该理论可能有助于深入探讨诸如为什么视野体验是统一的以及为什么不同的人没有统一的意识等问题。本文构成了对模型统一性的一项相对较小的初步研究。我们进行了四项调查并将其作为示例给出。还给出了一个假设，将预期浮动熵最小化的基础提炼成一个清晰的陈述，以便其他人能够思考该假设是否确定了意识的一个不言而喻的基本属性。
