Head to head
Functionalism vs Tegmark’s State of Matter
Functionalism and Tegmark’s State of Matter, compared field by field from their entries in the Atlas.
At a glance
- Functionalism belongs to the Materialism family in Kuhn's Landscape of Consciousness, Tegmark’s State of Matter to Neutral Monism.
- Both treat consciousness as emergent.
- They give the same kind of answer on AI consciousness, mind uploading and meaning and purpose.
- On life after death, Functionalism says “Conditional” and Tegmark’s State of Matter says “No”.
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The claim
In brief
FunctionalismFunctionalism posits that mental states are defined by their causal relations to one another, to sensory inputs, and to behavioral outputs, independent of the physical medium (substrate) in which they are realized. The essence of consciousness is determined by how mental states function or operate, rather than by what they are materially composed of.
Tegmark’s State of MatterTegmark proposes that consciousness can be understood as a specific state of matter, coined 'perceptronium,' which is defined by distinctive information-processing abilities. Starting from the premise that all existence is physical, the theory seeks principles that distinguish conscious, complex information processing from non-conscious processing.
What consciousness is
FunctionalismMental states are identified as functional states, constituted by their causal relations, roles, results, and outputs, implying they are realizable in any substrate that supports those functions.
Tegmark’s State of MatterConsciousness is identified as the subjective experience or 'feeling' that arises when information is being processed in certain complex ways, constituting the state of matter termed 'perceptronium'.
Big questions
Can AI be conscious?Both agree
FunctionalismYesFunctionalism holds that consciousness is based on function, not biology. If the correct functions can be realized computationally in non-biological substrates, AI consciousness is possible in principle and certain if Materialism is true.
Tegmark’s State of MatterYesThe theory is strictly physicalist ('It's all physics') and defines consciousness as a state of matter achievable through complex information processing. Therefore, artificial systems can achieve this state in principle.
FunctionalismConditionalAs a physicalist theory, consciousness is tied to the substrate. Survival beyond death of the biological body is only possible if the functional mental state can be successfully transferred (uploaded) to a new, continuing substrate (virtual immortality).
Tegmark’s State of MatterNoConsciousness is an emergent state of matter (perceptronium) of the physical brain. The irreversible death and dissolution of the physical substrate would entail the cessation of consciousness.
Could a mind be uploaded?Both agree
FunctionalismLikelyFunctionalism serves as the theoretical basis for virtual immortality. If the functional role of the mental self can be perfectly duplicated and uploaded to a new medium, the first-person mental self is preserved.
Tegmark’s State of MatterLikelyIf consciousness is a specific informational state of matter defined by mathematical/physical principles, that state could potentially be perfectly duplicated or uploaded into a non-biological medium by advanced technology.
Does it give life meaning?Both agree
FunctionalismHumanistic onlyFunctionalism describes the mechanism by which mind/consciousness operates within a physical world, providing capacities for agency and reflection, but offers no rationale for ultimate cosmic meaning or teleology, aligning with the general stance of Materialism.
Tegmark’s State of MatterHumanistic onlyThe foundation in physics and mathematical structure typically suggests no ultimate cosmic purpose, consistent with deflationary physicalist views. The theory does not explicitly propose cosmic teleology.
Nature of mind
Ontology
FunctionalismPhysicalism (broadly, agnostic to substance). The theory is classified under Materialism, but it is metaphysically agnostic regarding nonphysical substances, focusing primarily on the functional description of mental states.
Tegmark’s State of MatterPhysicalism / Monism
Mind and body
FunctionalismMental states are functional states identical to the functional roles that are realized or instantiated in a physical substrate, leading to 'functional state identity theses'.
Tegmark’s State of MatterAn identity relationship is implied, where subjective experience (mind) is identified as a specific physical state (a state of matter/information processing).
Fundamental or emergent
FunctionalismEmergent. Consciousness arises from the functional organization realized by a sufficiently complex substrate (like neural tissue or computer chips).
Tegmark’s State of MatterEmergent
Qualia
FunctionalismThe theory traditionally struggles to account for phenomenal qualia, often addressing them by asserting that the qualitative feel is entirely exhausted by the functional role, or by coupling with representational theories.
Tegmark’s State of MatterQualia are implicitly the 'feeling' (subjective experience) associated with perceptronium's specific information processing configurations, formalized through four principles: information, integration, independence, and dynamics.
How it works
Mechanism
FunctionalismThe principle of multiple realizability, stating that mental state realization is independent of the physical substrate, contingent only upon the required function being instantiated.
Tegmark’s State of MatterThe definition of perceptronium via the application of four distinct principles (information, integration, independence, and dynamics) to information processing in physical systems.
Where it is
FunctionalismDistributed wherever the functional organization is successfully realized, regardless of whether the substrate is neural tissue or hardwired computing components.
Tegmark’s State of MatterLocalized to physical systems (e.g., neural networks or arbitrary quantum systems) that achieve the specific information-processing criteria defining perceptronium.
What it does
FunctionalismFunctions, roles, and outputs are dispositive. Mental states are causally effective because they are defined by their causal relations within the system (functional role).
Tegmark’s State of MatterConsciousness is crucial for information assessment and is viewed as functionally important for critical needs like caring for comatose patients or communicating with advanced AI. Causation is strictly physical.
Evidence and criticism
Testability
FunctionalismConceptually and empirically testable. Thought experiments (like substrate replacement) probe its conceptual limits, and computational realization (AI) tests its empirical application.
Tegmark’s State of MatterEmpirically testable
Tests so far
FunctionalismThe silicon chip replacement thought experiment is used conceptually to test whether phenomenal consciousness is preserved when the functional role is maintained across a change in substrate.
Tegmark’s State of MatterThe generalization of Integrated Information Theory implies relevance to IIT's measurement function (quantifying degrees of consciousness). The theory is intended to address concrete problems like assessing comatose patients and advanced AI.
Criticisms
FunctionalismIt is criticized heavily for failing to account for phenomenal consciousness (qualia) by describing only the functional role, leading to the 'hard problem' challenge that functional roles may not exhaust the nature of conscious experience.
Tegmark’s State of MatterAs a generalization of IIT, it inherits existing critiques, such as the difficulty in explaining subjective feeling purely through physical and informational principles.
Sources
Key sources
Functionalism
- What is functionalism? (N. Block) (1980)
- What Is Functionalism? Consciousness, Function, and Representation (N. Block) (2007)
- Functionalism (J. Levin) (2023)
Tegmark’s State of Matter
- Consciousness is a state of matter (2015)
- Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality (2014)