Head to head
Orch OR vs Strawson’s Panpsychism
Penrose-Hameroff’s Orchestrated Objective Reduction and Strawson’s Panpsychism Theory, compared field by field from their entries in the Atlas.
At a glance
- Orch OR belongs to the Quantum & Dimensions family in Kuhn's Landscape of Consciousness, Strawson’s Panpsychism to Panpsychism.
- Orch OR treats consciousness as emergent; Strawson’s Panpsychism treats it as fundamental.
- On AI consciousness, Orch OR says “No” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Likely”.
- On life after death, Orch OR says “Possible” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Unlikely”.
- On mind uploading, Orch OR says “Conditional” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Likely”.
- On meaning and purpose, Orch OR says “Cosmic/Ultimate” and Strawson’s Panpsychism says “Uncertain”.
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Quantum & Dimensions
Penrose-Hameroff’s Orchestrated Objective Reduction
Roger Penrose, Stuart Hameroff
The claim
In brief
Orch ORThis theory posits that consciousness arises from non-computational, gravitation-mediated objective reduction (OR) of quantum superpositions occurring within the protein structures (microtubules) inside brain neurons. This process, termed Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR), bridges the gap between quantum mechanics and classical reality to produce phenomenal experience.
Strawson’s PanpsychismStrawson argues that any philosopher taking a realistic view of physicalism must accept that all physical phenomena are intrinsically experiential or phenomenal, leading to panpsychism (or panexperientialism) as a necessary conclusion of 'Real Materialism'. The existence of conscious experience, being the most certain fact, cannot be denied by genuine physicalism .
What consciousness is
Orch ORConsciousness is identified as a non-computational physical process—the specific orchestration of gravitation-mediated objective reduction of quantum states linked to the fine-scale structure of spacetime geometry. Proto-conscious moments are fundamental and ubiquitous in the universe.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConsciousness (experience) is identified as an intrinsic, non-reducible phenomenal property of all fundamental physical stuff or energy (panexperientialism).
Big questions
Can AI be conscious?Differ
Orch ORNoConsciousness is fundamentally non-computational and relies on specific biological quantum processes (Orch OR in microtubules); digital simulation cannot replicate true sentience.
Strawson’s PanpsychismLikelyIf consciousness is an irreducible property of every elementary physical entity, then AI, being composed of physical matter, should also have inner awareness, provided the combination problem can be solved and micropsychic aspects can be manipulated by advanced technology .
Orch ORPossibleAs a non-local quantum process in spacetime geometry, consciousness provides a potentially plausible mechanism for phenomena like near-death experiences, the afterlife, and reincarnation.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUnlikelyAlthough the world is infused with consciousness, survival requires reversing the complex process of microscopic elements coalescing into macroscopic consciousness, which seems difficult for first-person survival upon brain dissolution .
Orch ORConditionalMind uploading requires recreating consciousness in an artificial medium (e.g., carbon nanotubes) that possesses the necessary quantum physical properties to sustain and orchestrate objective reduction events.
Strawson’s PanpsychismLikelyIf consciousness is an intrinsic, regular property of the fabric of reality, advanced technology could potentially learn the regularities needed to aggregate or manipulate micropsychic forces to duplicate or upload consciousness .
Orch ORCosmic/UltimateProto-conscious moments are fundamental and ubiquitous, linking consciousness to the fine-scale structure of reality, suggesting inherent cosmic relevance and possibly enabling evolution itself.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUncertainPanpsychism is positioned between Materialism (no ultimate purpose) and Dualism/Idealism (ultimate purpose), suggesting possible ultimate meaning/purpose/value .
Nature of mind
Ontology
Orch ORQuantum Theory (Non-computational Physicalism / Proto-panpsychism)
Strawson’s PanpsychismRealistic Monism / Real Materialism
Mind and body
Orch ORConsciousness is non-computational physics. The brain's microtubules act as a mechanism to orchestrate proto-conscious quantum activity into coherent, rich conscious experiences, requiring a physics beyond current understanding.
Strawson’s PanpsychismIdentity Theory (Strong Sense). Mental phenomena are considered concrete physical phenomena because real physicalism encompasses all real phenomena, including experience.
Fundamental or emergent
Orch OREmergent/Primitive (Hybrid)
Strawson’s PanpsychismPrimitive/Fundamental
Qualia
Orch ORRich conscious experience (qualia) arises when orchestrated objective reduction occurs in neuronal microtubules, connecting the quantum information processing to the fundamental structure of spacetime geometry.
Strawson’s PanpsychismQualia are real, concrete, and physical properties of the world; their denial is considered the 'silliest claim ever made'.
How it works
Mechanism
Orch OROrchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR), where non-computational, instantaneous quantum state collapse is leveraged by coherent quantum activity sustained within microtubule lattices.
Strawson’s PanpsychismThe principle that all concrete phenomena are physical, combined with the fact that experience is a concrete phenomenon and cannot radically emerge, dictates that experience is intrinsic to fundamental physics.
Where it is
Orch ORLocalized within neuronal microtubules, particularly in the brain, but fundamentally drawing upon ubiquitous proto-conscious properties throughout the universe.
Strawson’s PanpsychismUbiquitous, associated with every part or aspect of physical reality, akin to fundamental fields and particles .
What it does
Orch ORConsciousness provides real-time conscious causal action through non-computable objective reduction events, potentially linked to the fundamental mechanisms of free will and choice.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConsciousness, being physical, fits unproblematically into the natural world. (The specific causal role of individual experiences is implied through their physical status but not detailed in the sources).
Evidence and criticism
Testability
Orch ORTheoretically testable; versions involving collapse dynamics can, in principle, be tested with quantum computers, though current tests are rudimentary.
Strawson’s PanpsychismConceptually testable. It is a metaphysical proposal derived from philosophical premises about the nature of the physical world. Nagasawa notes that panpsychism, even if true, may reach a 'cognitive dead end' because it cannot be proven .
Tests so far
Orch ORStudies showing that general anesthetics, psychedelics, and antidepressants interact with microtubules.,Experiments aimed at testing quantum coherence maintenance in biological systems (e.g., tubulin studies).,Testing theoretical versions by combining IIT and collapse dynamics.
Strawson’s PanpsychismNot stated
Criticisms
Orch ORThe main tension is the challenge of maintaining quantum coherence for biological timescales in the hot, wet environment of the brain (environmental decoherence). The theory also requires non-existent physics (quantum gravity).
Strawson’s PanpsychismWidely held to be 'absurd' by some critics . It suffers from the combination problem, requiring an explanation of how micro-level experiences aggregate to yield macrophenomenal properties.
Sources
Key sources
Orch OR
- Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness, Roger Penrose (1996)
- Conscious., Microtub. ‘Orch OR’, Stuart Hameroff (2014)
- Consciousness & new physics, Roger Penrose (2023)
Strawson’s Panpsychism
- Realistic Monism: Why Physicalism Entails Panpsychism, Galen Strawson (2009)
- Real Materialism and Other Essays, Galen Strawson (2008)
- The Consciousness Deniers, Galen Strawson (2018)